"Things aren't better now than they were four or five years ago," Romney said. "You can't blame George Bush anymore. President Obama is going to have to take responsibility."
McPhail, 43, of Windham, who owns a small roofing business, had turned around his truck and rushed into Benson Lumber & Hardware to shake Romney's hand.
"I think he's a brilliant businessman and a great leader, the only one who understands the economy," said McPhail. "That's what the country needs."
For two hours, Romney and six rivals clashed in a debate, televised nationally on CNN, that seemed to change little about the 2012 race. He's still the frontrunner, but somebody will emerge as his chief rival, and Romney acknowledged that he is bound to face criticism over his state health-care plan - similar to Obama's national overhaul in requiring individuals to buy insurance - as the race intensifies.
None of the contestants on the stage at St. Anselm College brought it up, so their positions sounded indistinguishable: that the president's plan needs to be repealed and replaced with state and market-based solutions. Romney said Tuesday that he should be judged on his proposed repeal of the federal law, not on the Massachusetts plan, he said.
"We all agree that Obamacare is the wrong direction for the nation," Romney told reporters. "And if people want to look at what's happening in Massachusetts, why, I'm not running for governor of Massachusetts. I'm running for president of the United States."
He said, "I don't think there are any questions that will be put to rest until somebody's won."
