"Thanks Mitt and Put a Sock In It Billy!"

Mitt Romney's take-no-prisoners performance in Wednesday night's debate in Mile High environs (which according to Algore cramped the functioning ability of the Demagogue in Chief) made a lot of Republicans happy around the country and our beloved Granite State.

However, I suspect that none were happier than three fellas named Ovide, Charlie, and Frank.  Those are the three Republicans, all trailing in WMUR/Granite State Polls, running near the top of the ticket with Mitt Romney.

They are, of course, Ovide LaMontagne trailing by two points to Maggie Hassan for governor, Charlie Bass trailing by two (36-34) to Annie The Dancer Kuster in the second C.D., and even more significantly incumbent Congressman Frank Guinta, trailing by a whopping 11 points (46-35) to former Congressman Carol Shea Porter in the first C.D.

Romney undoubtedly improved his chances nationwide and in New Hampshire greatly with the debate.  Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com contends that the biggest bump off a debate performance has been three points, but for once I agree with Dick Morris that Romney was so strong that he could see a four or five point bump.

In fact, in Rasmussen polling out today, Romney has pulled ahead in Virginia and Florida and within a point in Ohio.  Another polling outfit has him now ahead in all three states and closing fast in others.

That gets us back to New Hampshire's three happy fellas.

I've always trumpeted the line "To of the ticket matters" and should Romney lose New Hampshire by double digits, the rest of the ticket would undoubtedly be crushded as well.  There are so many undecided voters in the gubernatorial race and second C.D. that it's anybody's race, but at only 35 percent, Guinta appears to be in big trouble (and he doesn't even have a dancing ad to bail him out).  National wise men such as Charlie Cook and Larry Sabato still have both these races as toss-ups even as they are convinced Republicans will maintain firm control in the U.S. House.

Romney at altitude breathed life not only into his own campaign but into those of several other Republicans on the ballot here in New Hampshire.

At the state level, the rash of recent polls can lead to only one conclusion.  The Republican brand name has suffered.  It's not just one thing; it's not just D.J. Bettencourt resigning in disgrace or the tactics of Speaker Billy the Bully who won't even let the Concord Monitor into his press conferences.  It's not just Todd Akin in Missouri or Szabo in Hillsborough County or Rep/ Flanagan's daughter stealing Democratic signs.

It's an unending series of bone-headed moves and statements by Republicans.

They must cease if Ovide, Charlie, and Frank are to prevail.

In fact now that Romney has won the first debate, the number one priority of Republican leaders (here John Sununu should involve himself) should be to take Billy the Bully into a closet with a sock and say, "Hey Bill, for the next five weeks, take this and stuff it into your mouth.  We don't need you eroding our brand name any further when we're all fighting for our political lives."

I kid you not.  I didn't come up with this on my own.  A Republican insider just told me, and no wonder.

With 298 Reps, Billy the Bully couldn't pass right to work or a 60 percent super majority amendment to raise taxes (it would require 240 House votes) yet he comes out with a program to try, try again if re-elected.  It's the definition of insanity--imagining you can do something next year that you couldn't accomplish with 298 Reps and 19 (0f 24 Senators) this year.

So it's time for Ovide, Charlie, and Frank to add another line to their, "Thank you, Mitt Romney."

The new line, I repeat is, "Put a sock in it, Billy."