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| Mitt Romney's sweep in Republican primary results: GOP panel verdict | Mitt Romney's sweep in Republican primary results: GOP panel verdict |
| (4 months later) | |
| Jim Antle: 'Ron Paul is more of a distraction from the Romney coronation than a serious threat' | Jim Antle: 'Ron Paul is more of a distraction from the Romney coronation than a serious threat' |
| Throughout the 2012 Republican primary campaign, we've been looking for Mitt Romney to score that decisive victory. The set of wins that establish him, once and for all, as the likely nominee, ending all hope for his opponents. | Throughout the 2012 Republican primary campaign, we've been looking for Mitt Romney to score that decisive victory. The set of wins that establish him, once and for all, as the likely nominee, ending all hope for his opponents. |
| It may have taken until his strongest challenger, Rick Santorum, suspended his campaign. But last night was Romney's knockout blow. | It may have taken until his strongest challenger, Rick Santorum, suspended his campaign. But last night was Romney's knockout blow. |
| Romney swept all five states that voted Tuesday. The most competitive state, Delaware, was a nearly 30-point Romney blowout in a primary that Newt Gingrich had pinned his hopes on winning. | Romney swept all five states that voted Tuesday. The most competitive state, Delaware, was a nearly 30-point Romney blowout in a primary that Newt Gingrich had pinned his hopes on winning. |
| In the absence of Santorum, Gingrich was supposed to consolidate the remaining anti-Romney vote. He failed miserably. Delaware was the only state where he managed to finish second. He ran behind Ron Paul everywhere else. He wound up in fourth place in Pennsylvania, getting fewer votes than ex-candidate Santorum. There is no longer even a symbolic reason for the former House speaker to continue his candidacy. Gingrich will likely leave the race soon; but if he doesn't, who will notice? | In the absence of Santorum, Gingrich was supposed to consolidate the remaining anti-Romney vote. He failed miserably. Delaware was the only state where he managed to finish second. He ran behind Ron Paul everywhere else. He wound up in fourth place in Pennsylvania, getting fewer votes than ex-candidate Santorum. There is no longer even a symbolic reason for the former House speaker to continue his candidacy. Gingrich will likely leave the race soon; but if he doesn't, who will notice? |
| The primary calendar gets increasingly favorable for Romney. He may even be able to seal the deal with a pair of Southern wins in Texas and North Carolina. The frontrunner's only remaining obstacle is Paul's growing success at capturing unbound delegates in caucus states. The libertarian congressman from Texas grabbed the lion's share from Minnesota, may be in the process of winning a majority of delegates from Iowa, and is the only other candidate to win delegates last night (three to four in Rhode Island). | The primary calendar gets increasingly favorable for Romney. He may even be able to seal the deal with a pair of Southern wins in Texas and North Carolina. The frontrunner's only remaining obstacle is Paul's growing success at capturing unbound delegates in caucus states. The libertarian congressman from Texas grabbed the lion's share from Minnesota, may be in the process of winning a majority of delegates from Iowa, and is the only other candidate to win delegates last night (three to four in Rhode Island). |
| Paul, who is trying to build a movement within the party more than he is seeking the nomination, is more a distraction from the Romney coronation than a serious threat. Romney will be the nominee. Last night, he finally put an exclamation point on it. The referee is ready to call the fight. | Paul, who is trying to build a movement within the party more than he is seeking the nomination, is more a distraction from the Romney coronation than a serious threat. Romney will be the nominee. Last night, he finally put an exclamation point on it. The referee is ready to call the fight. |
| James Antle is associate editor of the American Spectator | James Antle is associate editor of the American Spectator |
| Cheri Jacobus: 'Newt Gingrich should do what he has so ably done for decades – get Republicans elected' | Cheri Jacobus: 'Newt Gingrich should do what he has so ably done for decades – get Republicans elected' |
| After 43 caucuses and primaries – some won, some lost (far more won) – Mitt Romney finally gets warmed up for his victory lap. | After 43 caucuses and primaries – some won, some lost (far more won) – Mitt Romney finally gets warmed up for his victory lap. |
| Delaware is our First State, but it was Newt Gingrich's last stand, as he spent a significant amount of time campaigning there, and still lost to Romney. The Tea Party drama in the state two years ago, when Christine O'Donnell effectively ended the long and illustrious career of former governor and congressman Mike Castle with a shocking Senate primary defeat, did not provide a similar underdog victory for the former speaker of the House. Romney handily won the small state of Delaware; and Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island easily slid into the Romney column in a clean sweep. | Delaware is our First State, but it was Newt Gingrich's last stand, as he spent a significant amount of time campaigning there, and still lost to Romney. The Tea Party drama in the state two years ago, when Christine O'Donnell effectively ended the long and illustrious career of former governor and congressman Mike Castle with a shocking Senate primary defeat, did not provide a similar underdog victory for the former speaker of the House. Romney handily won the small state of Delaware; and Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island easily slid into the Romney column in a clean sweep. |
| There is no question that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is the GOP nominee. The only question now is how gracefully can Newt Gingrich suspend his campaign and support the party's nominee. | There is no question that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is the GOP nominee. The only question now is how gracefully can Newt Gingrich suspend his campaign and support the party's nominee. |
| Newt has brought a lot to the race and played a paramount role in sharpening the focus on the issues in the debates. But he risks alienating some Republicans if he rains on Romney's parade – especially since, after such an exciting and hard-fought primary, Mitt Romney clearly is entitled to a degree of fanfare. A Gingrich endorsement would go a long way to achieving that objective. | Newt has brought a lot to the race and played a paramount role in sharpening the focus on the issues in the debates. But he risks alienating some Republicans if he rains on Romney's parade – especially since, after such an exciting and hard-fought primary, Mitt Romney clearly is entitled to a degree of fanfare. A Gingrich endorsement would go a long way to achieving that objective. |
| Newt should get busy doing what Newt has so ably done for decades: getting Republicans elected. | Newt should get busy doing what Newt has so ably done for decades: getting Republicans elected. |
| Conservatives are uniting behind Romney, eager for the fight to take back the US and get the economy rolling again, so that every citizen has a shot at the "American Dream". Mitt Romney is ready. | Conservatives are uniting behind Romney, eager for the fight to take back the US and get the economy rolling again, so that every citizen has a shot at the "American Dream". Mitt Romney is ready. |
| Cheri Jacobus is a political strategist, pundit and writer | Cheri Jacobus is a political strategist, pundit and writer |
| Matt Lewis: 'For Mitt Romney, a boring night was a good night' | Matt Lewis: 'For Mitt Romney, a boring night was a good night' |
| After watching countless debates – and spending numerous late nights waiting for primary election results to come in – how fun was it to cover one more meaningless primary night? The Twitter hashtag #unsupertuesday said it all. | After watching countless debates – and spending numerous late nights waiting for primary election results to come in – how fun was it to cover one more meaningless primary night? The Twitter hashtag #unsupertuesday said it all. |
| For Mitt Romney, a boring night was a good night. Had Newt Gingrich won Delaware, for example – or had Rick Santorum (who was still on the ballot in Pennsylvania, despite having dropped out of the race) performed well – the chattering classes would have had more to talk about. | For Mitt Romney, a boring night was a good night. Had Newt Gingrich won Delaware, for example – or had Rick Santorum (who was still on the ballot in Pennsylvania, despite having dropped out of the race) performed well – the chattering classes would have had more to talk about. |
| None of that happened, of course. Romney won all five states and delivered a well-received, if perfunctory speech. If there was any doubt we had entered the general election (there shouldn't have been), it was finally put to an end last night. | None of that happened, of course. Romney won all five states and delivered a well-received, if perfunctory speech. If there was any doubt we had entered the general election (there shouldn't have been), it was finally put to an end last night. |
| Romney's slogan hinted that Tuesday was a turning point for the campaign. As the campaign signs behind him read, the theme of the night was: "A Better America Begins Tonight." Winston Churchill perhaps put it better, when he said, "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." | Romney's slogan hinted that Tuesday was a turning point for the campaign. As the campaign signs behind him read, the theme of the night was: "A Better America Begins Tonight." Winston Churchill perhaps put it better, when he said, "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." |
| The primaries are over. And so we enter the general election. | The primaries are over. And so we enter the general election. |
| Matt Lewis is senior contributor to the Daily Caller | Matt Lewis is senior contributor to the Daily Caller |
| Tim Montgomerie: 'Romney should not and cannot pretend to be an "average Joe"' | Tim Montgomerie: 'Romney should not and cannot pretend to be an "average Joe"' |
| At long last, the Republican primary process is coming to finality and Mitt Romney is, as was always expected, set to become the Republican nominee. | At long last, the Republican primary process is coming to finality and Mitt Romney is, as was always expected, set to become the Republican nominee. |
| What will most worry Barack Obama, however, is not the Republican party's fundraising power – although that is looking very considerable. The strong signs that the conservative movement is rallying to Romney are not Obama's biggest headache either. The top worry has to be the economy. | What will most worry Barack Obama, however, is not the Republican party's fundraising power – although that is looking very considerable. The strong signs that the conservative movement is rallying to Romney are not Obama's biggest headache either. The top worry has to be the economy. |
| The UK is back in recession, as of today. The whole European economy is heading downwards again as the continent refuses to face up to its debt problem and the structural uncompetitiveness of the eurozone. Confidence is collapsing in London, Paris and Berlin, and the gloom is set to spread across the Atlantic. The feeble recovery that President Obama needed to get stronger may actually become weaker. | The UK is back in recession, as of today. The whole European economy is heading downwards again as the continent refuses to face up to its debt problem and the structural uncompetitiveness of the eurozone. Confidence is collapsing in London, Paris and Berlin, and the gloom is set to spread across the Atlantic. The feeble recovery that President Obama needed to get stronger may actually become weaker. |
| In this environment, Romney should not and cannot pretend to be an "average Joe", but he can say to America that, unlike Obama, he knows how to create jobs, run big projects and balance the books. He should choose a running mate who reinforces this sense that the Republicans are the grownup party and the Democrats are the party that want to play class war rather than fix problems. | In this environment, Romney should not and cannot pretend to be an "average Joe", but he can say to America that, unlike Obama, he knows how to create jobs, run big projects and balance the books. He should choose a running mate who reinforces this sense that the Republicans are the grownup party and the Democrats are the party that want to play class war rather than fix problems. |
| Romney may not have the charisma or vision of Ronald Reagan, but he should adopt the Gipper's 1980 campaign slogan. Governor Romney needs to get up at every rally and ask the simple question: "Are you better-off than you were four years ago?" If that's the question on voters' minds, come the election, the Republicans may just have nominated America's 45th commander-in-chief. | Romney may not have the charisma or vision of Ronald Reagan, but he should adopt the Gipper's 1980 campaign slogan. Governor Romney needs to get up at every rally and ask the simple question: "Are you better-off than you were four years ago?" If that's the question on voters' minds, come the election, the Republicans may just have nominated America's 45th commander-in-chief. |
| Tim Montgomerie is editor of ConservativeHomeUSA | Tim Montgomerie is editor of ConservativeHomeUSA |
| Grover Norquist: 'It weakens Rick Santorum to postpone his endorsement of Romney' | Grover Norquist: 'It weakens Rick Santorum to postpone his endorsement of Romney' |
| The primary contest for the Republican party's nomination for the presidency is over. Tuesday night, Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, swept five northeastern states – New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Connecticut – against the remaining candidates in the field: Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. Ron Paul will continue his campaign which is, in reality, a movement-building exercise for libertarian Republicans. His campaign will not end, as it is scheduled to run for the next several decades – perhaps, one day, led by Congressman Paul's son, Rand Paul, the Republican senator from Kentucky. | The primary contest for the Republican party's nomination for the presidency is over. Tuesday night, Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, swept five northeastern states – New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Connecticut – against the remaining candidates in the field: Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. Ron Paul will continue his campaign which is, in reality, a movement-building exercise for libertarian Republicans. His campaign will not end, as it is scheduled to run for the next several decades – perhaps, one day, led by Congressman Paul's son, Rand Paul, the Republican senator from Kentucky. |
| Former Speaker Newt Gingrich will continue to speak on issues and run a "sort of" campaign that forces the establishment press to check in with him more often. Santorum, the candidate who might have used his strong showing in 2012 to run for the nomination in 2016 or 2020, has unwisely failed to quit graciously and endorse Romney. His key supporters are doing just that, and when Rick Santorum finally steps aside and endorses Romney, it will be an afterthought. | Former Speaker Newt Gingrich will continue to speak on issues and run a "sort of" campaign that forces the establishment press to check in with him more often. Santorum, the candidate who might have used his strong showing in 2012 to run for the nomination in 2016 or 2020, has unwisely failed to quit graciously and endorse Romney. His key supporters are doing just that, and when Rick Santorum finally steps aside and endorses Romney, it will be an afterthought. |
| Santorum could have been seen to swing his supporters behind Romney if he had urged them to do so a few weeks ago. Now, they are understandably drifting over to Romney on their own schedule and it weakens Santorum to have waited so long. | Santorum could have been seen to swing his supporters behind Romney if he had urged them to do so a few weeks ago. Now, they are understandably drifting over to Romney on their own schedule and it weakens Santorum to have waited so long. |
| The Republican National Committee – made up of the chairman and national committeewoman and committeeman from each state and territory – has now recognized Romney as the nominee to beat, and the fall campaign begins. | The Republican National Committee – made up of the chairman and national committeewoman and committeeman from each state and territory – has now recognized Romney as the nominee to beat, and the fall campaign begins. |
| Grover Norquist is president of Americans for Tax Reform | Grover Norquist is president of Americans for Tax Reform |
| Michael Wissot: 'Romney needs to focus on what Americas can do to better their circumstances' | Michael Wissot: 'Romney needs to focus on what Americas can do to better their circumstances' |
| Mitt Romney can finally enjoy an election night victory. This interminable nomination could not be more taxing on a candidate who never relished the prospects of a nasty primary. Everyone knew it was coming, including him. And it simply had to unfold this way. | Mitt Romney can finally enjoy an election night victory. This interminable nomination could not be more taxing on a candidate who never relished the prospects of a nasty primary. Everyone knew it was coming, including him. And it simply had to unfold this way. |
| Romney may have held the advantage from day one, but no Republican's credentials have been tested through the conservative apparatus any more fiercely. This man earned it. | Romney may have held the advantage from day one, but no Republican's credentials have been tested through the conservative apparatus any more fiercely. This man earned it. |
| Truth be told, Romney never looked comfortable having to prove his conservatism. But for all the time he spent defending his positions, he now has the advantage of playing offense. | Truth be told, Romney never looked comfortable having to prove his conservatism. But for all the time he spent defending his positions, he now has the advantage of playing offense. |
| If this election becomes a referendum on Barack Obama, then Romney has a legitimate chance. But if the president can shift the tone to a past-future paradigm – arguing that "we cannot go back to the failed policies of George W Bush" – then populism will, once again, be the prevailing litmus test. | If this election becomes a referendum on Barack Obama, then Romney has a legitimate chance. But if the president can shift the tone to a past-future paradigm – arguing that "we cannot go back to the failed policies of George W Bush" – then populism will, once again, be the prevailing litmus test. |
| Romney cannot rely solely on attacking the president's record. John Kerry made that mistake in 2004, and it cost him dearly. When running against a generally likeable incumbent, the challenger must reach deeper. | Romney cannot rely solely on attacking the president's record. John Kerry made that mistake in 2004, and it cost him dearly. When running against a generally likeable incumbent, the challenger must reach deeper. |
| The key for Romney will be relying on aspirational language. The Tea Party may have effectively captured the widespread frustration over reckless spending, but Romney must now harness it into messages about economic opportunity: the freedom to work, to earn, to achieve. | The key for Romney will be relying on aspirational language. The Tea Party may have effectively captured the widespread frustration over reckless spending, but Romney must now harness it into messages about economic opportunity: the freedom to work, to earn, to achieve. |
| It's a natural fit for a man who has practiced it throughout his career, and certainly throughout the primary. One of Romney's best responses in the GOP debates was: | It's a natural fit for a man who has practiced it throughout his career, and certainly throughout the primary. One of Romney's best responses in the GOP debates was: |
| "This is a president who fundamentally believes that this next century is the post American century; perhaps it's going to be the Chinese century. He is wrong. It has to be the American century." | "This is a president who fundamentally believes that this next century is the post American century; perhaps it's going to be the Chinese century. He is wrong. It has to be the American century." |
| Romney's confidence in the US connects with voters, particularly independents. Even during last night's victory, Romney said, "The last few years have been the best that Barack Obama can do, but it's not the best America can do." | Romney's confidence in the US connects with voters, particularly independents. Even during last night's victory, Romney said, "The last few years have been the best that Barack Obama can do, but it's not the best America can do." |
| Romney cannot win a debate over class warfare. But he can rally voters around the American work ethic. Instead of clashing with the president over how America is struggling, Romney must focus on what Americans can do to better their circumstances, perhaps even better themselves. | Romney cannot win a debate over class warfare. But he can rally voters around the American work ethic. Instead of clashing with the president over how America is struggling, Romney must focus on what Americans can do to better their circumstances, perhaps even better themselves. |
| This hard-fought GOP primary tested Romney's resolve as a politician. Now, he needs to capture US resolve during a time when we are truly tested as a nation. | This hard-fought GOP primary tested Romney's resolve as a politician. Now, he needs to capture US resolve during a time when we are truly tested as a nation. |
| Michael Wissot is a senior strategist for Luntz Global | Michael Wissot is a senior strategist for Luntz Global |
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