Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said, “the media-picked front-runner hasn’t broken 50 percent yet,” citing Romney’s showings in the year’s first three elections. “That leaves a lot of math out there for the conservative side of the party to pick up, which is how we’ll stay competitive in the nomination.”
BY DAVID LIGHTMAN, WILLIAM DOUGLAS AND LESLEY CLARK | MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
ORLANDO, Fla. — Mitt Romney’s victory Tuesday in Florida’s presidential primary — the first test of electoral strength in a big, diverse state this year — establishes him firmly as the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican presidential nomination.
Several national news organizations projected Romney as the winner immediately after Florida’s polls closed. With 75 percent of the vote counted, Romney had 47 percent, Newt Gingrich had 32 percent, Rick Santorum had 13 percent and Ron Paul had 7 percent.
Yet even as the former Massachusetts governor rolled up an apparent double-digit victory in the Sunshine State, he can’t claim the prize yet. He probably is at least five weeks away from becoming the consensus nominee, and perhaps two months or more from collecting the 1,144 convention delegates he needs to lock up victory.
His three major rivals vow to wage spirited campaigns in upcoming states, and if conservatives were to rally around a single candidate, Romney could face a prolonged battle that could weaken him in November’s general election.
But at the moment, almost everything is breaking his way — and the path forward seems to favor him. The next test comes Saturday in Nevada, which Romney won easily in 2008. The rest of February features caucuses and primaries in Maine, Colorado, Minnesota and Michigan. Romney won each four years ago, and he’s a strong favorite in each again.
Arizona has a primary Feb. 28; Romney lost it in 2008 to John McCain, the state’s senior senator and eventual nominee. This year, McCain is backing Romney.
Romney has far more money and organizational strength than any rival. His Florida campaign demonstrated an ability to rebound quickly from a staggering loss 10 days earlier in South Carolina to Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives. Romney pivoted from running largely against President Barack Obama to some old-fashioned bashing of the enemy before him, Gingrich. It worked.
Romney’s strength is no surprise to seasoned analysts.
“The Romney nomination has been very likely all along,” said Larry Sabato, the director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
Romney now has a different challenge: vanquish his remaining rivals as quickly as possible, so that any doubts about him they raise in voters’ minds can be forgotten.
“The longer this goes on, the more difficulty Romney faces,” Sabato said.
The primary and caucus season stretches until the end of June. Gingrich, Texas Rep. Paul and former Pennsylvania Sen. Santorum say they’ll battle on.
Romney declared victory before a raucous crowd in Tampa. He warned watching Democrats that “a competitive primary does not divide us. It prepares us — and we will win.”
He criticized President Barack Obama at length, and cited his own leadership experience as a business executive, a rescuer of the 2002 Winter Olympics, and a state governor.
“I stand ready to lead this party and to lead our nation,” he said. “My leadership will end the Obama era and begin a new era of American prosperity.”
Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said, “the media-picked front-runner hasn’t broken 50 percent yet,” citing Romney’s showings in the year’s first three elections. “That leaves a lot of math out there for the conservative side of the party to pick up, which is how we’ll stay competitive in the nomination.”