Which is why Romney is dominating the primary? Not buying it. NH is one of the worst states at voting itself from the trough.
Maybe 10 years ago, sure, but now? NH is virtually indistinguishable from MA, etc. Even Maine is more conservative these days than NH.
When I moved up here, I used to hear Mitt Romney on TV, and he sounded great. If you have lived in a really truly one-party Demonrat state, then what he said sounded sweet. All the remaining Pubbie candidates have serious flaws: Newt with his fraternization with Pelosi over AGW, Perry with his Latino-pandering, and Santorum with his union-pandering. Suppose Perry had to run in MA or PA—would he really be different? Until we get back to Constitutional limited govt., politicians are going to have to play the game.
I think you must never have been near the place, or outside the area of NH which is part of greater Boston.
The same goes for MD. The Balto. metro area and the DC suburbs swing MD for the Demonrats, but rural western MD and the Eastern Shore are mostly Republican.