RI GOP Leaders Say Presidential Race is Romney’s to Lose
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney cruised to victory in New Hampshire Tuesday, withstanding vicious attacks from his opponents and amassing 39 percent of the vote in a state he barely campaigned in.
Now, with South Carolina on the horizon, Rhode Island Republicans are saying it’s time for the GOP to throw its support behind the more moderate Romney because he has the best chances of defeating President Obama in November.
The polls suggest they’re right. With Romney being labeled the only Republican that more moderate/liberal members of the Party believe would be fit for the nomination, a new Gallup poll puts the GOP frontrunner and the President in a statistical dead heat.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAccording to Rhode Island GOP executive director Patrick Sweeney, Romney’s campaign is soaring and a win in South Carolina could seal the nomination. Sweeney said he is the best choice to defeat the incumbent Obama.
“This is Mitt’s race to lose,” Sweeney said Tuesday afternoon. “He will win New Hampshire well into double digits, he’s leading by 10 in South Carolina, and he is up 7 in Florida. Governor Romney’s message of job creation, fiscal responsibility, and smaller government is resonating with the voters all across the country. America cannot afford 4 more years of Barack Obama.”
Romney Can Win
The increasing support among conservatives is positive turn for Romney, whose chances to win a GOP primary have always been clouded the by the assumption that he was too moderate. But a concerted effort to connect more with the right wing faction the party coupled with the sentiment that he is the only candidate that could win a general election has Romney in a strong position to lock up the nomination.
Like Sweeney, State Representative Daniel Reilly favors Romney in the race.
“I'm glad to see voters in New Hampshire recognizing the need to elect a candidate who can win, who is a solid conservative, and who has the best private sector business record of any candidate in the race,” Reilly said.
Romney, who faced criticism in the days leading up to the primary for comments he made about his time as an executive at Bain Capital, became the first Republican who wasn’t a sitting President to win Iowa and New Hampshire and he did so in decisive fashion. Texas Congressman Ron Paul finished second with about 22.8 percent of the vote while former Utah governor Jon Huntsman finished a distant third.
Providence GOP: Romney is Unstoppable
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who is expected to make a push in South Carolina, finished fourth with less than 10 percent of the vote. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, who made headlines last week for his surprise second place finished in Iowa, amassed just 9.3 percent of the vote.
Gingrich, who is currently polling second behind Romney in South Carolina, will likely ramp up his criticism of Romney in the coming days as candidates move south. Gingrich was surging in the polls last month, but performed poorly in both Iowa and New Hampshire.
But Providence GOP chairperson Tara Pinsky said she is confident Romney is going to lock up the nomination.
“Mitt Romney is generating unstoppable momentum in becoming the Republican Presidential nominee - from Iowa to New Hampshire, and next to South Carolina and Florida,” Pinsky said. “He is the only candidate who appeals to the both the Republicans and Independents - which will make him the 45th President of the USA.”
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