–Former Mass Governor Romney Wins Key Presidential Primary
–Romney: GOP Will Ofer An ‘Alternative Vision’ of Governance
–GOP Presidential Race Now Shifts To South Carolina, Florida
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney
cruised to an easy win in New Hampshire’s Republican presidential
primary Tuesday, cementing his status as the GOP’s most likely opponent
to challenge President Obama in November.
When the state’s polls closed at 8 p.m. EST, all major U.S. TV
networks declared Romney the winner.
With more than a quarter of the vote counted, Romney has 35%, Texas
Congressman Ron Paul has 25% and former Utah governor and U.S.
ambassador to China Jon Huntsman has 17%.
While winning handily in New Hampshire and narrowly in Iowa last
week, Romney still has less that two dozen actual delegates.
To win the Republican presidential nomination, a candidate must
secure 1,212 delegates of the total 2,422 delegates.
“Tonight we celebrate. Tomorrow we go back to work,” Romney said
in his victory speech.
He blasted the “failed leadership” of President Obama and pledged
to offer an “alternative vision” for the nation.
The next key Republican primaries will be held in South Carolina on
January 21 and Florida on January 31. March 6 will be Super Tuesday in
which 10 states will hold their primaries. Pennsylvania and New York
will hold their primaries on April 24 and California will hold its
primary on June 5.
The Republican convention will be held in Tampa on August 27-30.
This year, thirty-six states will award their delegates on a
proportional basis in their primaries rather than the winner-take-all
system of past years.
This could lengthen the GOP’s presidential selection process.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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