Mitt Romney

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney receives a warm welcome before Friday's dinner sponsored by Americans for Prosperity in Manchester, N.H., one of several weekend meet-and-greets in the state with the first presidential primary.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney looks like he is running for president again. On Monday, he announced forming an exploratory committee as a Republican for the 2012 campaign.

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Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney looks like he is running for president again. On Monday, he announced forming an exploratory committee as a Republican for the 2012 campaign. (Associated Press)

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Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney works the tables like a presidential candidate Saturday in Bartlett, N.H, where he was keynote speaker at Carroll County Republican Committee's Lincoln Day Dinner. He called for repeal of President Obama's health care law. (Associated Press)

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Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney benefits from name recognition and remnants of his 2008 campaign in New Hampshire, which traditionally holds the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. (Associated Press)

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Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at the Values Voter Summit on Friday, Sept. 17, 2010, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty ordered state agencies to decline "discretionary" involvement with President Obama's health care overhaul on Tuesday. He is expected to use the move to hit Mitt Romney of the presidential campaign trail. He considers Mr. Romney a front-runner because of his name recognition and campaign organization dating back to his failed 2008 presidential run.