MITTENS' PATCHES:

At this point winning New Hampshire almost looks like a formality for Mr. Romney.  Polls currently show him sitting with about 40% support there and, as we have noted in this space before, Patchwork Nation's geographic/demographic breakdown shows the state's electoral terrain is made for him.

Only four of Patchwork Nation's 12 county types are represented there - the Monied Burbs, Boom Towns, Campus and Careers and small town Service Worker Centers counties -- and Mr. Romney won three of those four in Iowa, all except the Service Worker Centers.

With all those Romney advantages in place, what exactly is there to look for in Tuesday's results? Two things: Can he continue to capture the vote in the Monied Burbs and can he improve his standing in the small town Service Worker Centers?

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