Posted on 01/29/2008 9:05:48 PM PST by NormsRevenge
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Republican Mitt Romney, his family and supporters vowed to carry his campaign into the vote-rich Super Tuesday contests next week after narrowly losing Florida's primary to rival John McCain.
In his concession speech Tuesday night, Romney issued a call to arms to conservatives to support him, vowing to cut federal spending, end illegal immigration and teach children "that before they have babies, they should get married."
But it was his wife, Ann, who took the microphone after Romney delivered nine minutes of prepared remarks, who explained the reasons for continuing.
"We feel as though the conservatives are starting to rally around Mitt," she said, as her husband stood beside her. "This is just a send-off point; this is not an end. It's another beginning. We have 22 more states to go after, and we will be able to do that."
The defeat marked the fourth time the former Massachusetts governor and the Arizona senator had gone head-to-head in a major contest, with McCain winning as he had earlier in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Romney claimed victory in his native state of Michigan.
Romney's team believes that as the field narrows, most likely next with the departure of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Romney's ability to raise money and spend his millions will allow him to better highlight the contrast between his business background and McCain's long tenure in a Washington.
There are 21 GOP contests on the ballot on Feb. 5, with 1,023 delegates at stake. A total of 1,191 are needed for the GOP nomination.
It was the contrast in backgrounds that Romney highlighted in a concession speech that otherwise echoed familiar themes from the trail, as if the loss presented no jeopardy to the future of his campaign.
"At a time like this, America needs a president in the White House who has actually had a job in the real economy," Romney said, adding that "at a time like this, knowing how America works is more important than knowing how Washington works."
As the audience cheered, he declared: "Washington is fundamentally broken, and we're not going to change Washington by sending the same people back, just to sit in different chairs. I think it's time for the politicians to leave Washington and for the citizens to take over."
Despite Romney's upbeat posture, the loss was a setback.
As the former venture capitalist had done in earlier contests, Romney spent the most on television advertising of any GOP candidate in Florida. His staff was stocked with aides to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a veteran of state politics who secured a win for his brother, George W. Bush, in the disputed 2000 election.
In addition, with McCain winning all 57 of Florida's convention delegates, Romney ceded a major talking point: He no longer has the most delegates in the field. Romney began the evening with a 59-26 lead over McCain; McCain ended it ahead 83-59.
McCain gained late momentum with endorsements from Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., the state's top elected Hispanic leader, and Republican Gov. Charlie Crist.
He also made use of one of Romney's campaign tactics, running negative radio and Internet ads against his rival and fielding calls that accused Romney of favoring taxpayer-funded abortion. McCain also claimed Romney supported a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. Romney had not.
From Florida, Romney was headed to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., for a debate Wednesday night. He also planned two days of politicking in the state and a series of fundraisers from Beverly Hills to Sacramento.
He was stopping in Salt Lake City on Saturday to attend the funeral of Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who died Sunday. Romney is trying to become the first Mormon elected president.
After that, the schedule most likely will include stops in Colorado, Georgia and other states before concluding on Tuesday in Massachusetts, one of the Feb. 5 states.
The nasty way that Mr. Potato head Russert questioned Romney in the last debate showed us what the Leftist Media was up to. Let’s give them a collective Big Black eye instead and foil the coronation of McCain’t for GOP nominee.
Go Mitt.....and go Freepers...
Look at the math on super Tuesday. Rudy rigged the northeastern primaries as winner take all. McCain will take all of those next Tuesday. McCain is up by at least 10 pts in CA and Romney has to battle Huckabilly and antimormom bigotry in the south. McCain must self destruct for Romney to have a prayer.
However, I don't sit in a cave nursing disappointment, bitterness, grievances and surrender.....and slowly morphing into a moonbat hanging forever in the darkness from a stalactite.
I don't look back at what might have been....but what yet can be. Like Rush says, "it is what it is"......and one plays the cards one has been dealt.......and still plays to win.
Leni
That’s fine if your allegiance is to republicanism.
Like I said... I’m not in love with Romney and one of the things I like least about him is that Hew Hewittless supports him!!! But I’ll try to overlook that major blemish...
Lets line up at the polls like good sheeple and exercise our right to vote for the MSM’s presidential draft selections.
A vote is worthless if the voice behind the vote squeeks softly.
Why don’t you lay off Rush, XXXXXXXX He made most of us what we are today”
Oh, did he now ???
And what would that be ???
I’ve been listening to Rush since 1990
I was a Christian and and a Conservative and lifelong pro-lifer and voted Republican long before I ever heard Rush..
My God made me what I am today...
I seriously doubt of a talk show host will take responsibility for this mess..
Rush expects us to think for ourselves
The young skulls full of mush are those who blindly follow, whatever is going on..
The 'Pubbies have quite literally overtaken the UK Tories in outright stupidity, in my humble view.
Well, if that's to be, it's to be -- and, no matter how much I may despise this result (and you've NO idea how much I do ...grrrrr!), nothing will stop me from profiting by it...and emigrating. I adamantly wish that this were not the case, but, one must always bow (a bit, at least) to the reality on the ground.
Sod all these clowns. My candidate is Coolidge, and they all of them can go straight to the devil. Too bad Mr. Coolidge is not eligible in this election.
Mitt vows to fight on PING!
Now that's hilarious, I don't care who you are.
Well, if you’re looking for another losing cause to join, don’t join us because we intend for Mitt to win.
;^)
That’s not what I’m saying....not to be sheeple but rise above all the drek of liberalism and defeatism lies of the MSM. Conservatism makes this country better and liberalism is a cancer to it’s core. Stand up in the face of assault.
Go Romney go and GOD bless you and your lovely family
How about a few matching or bigger donations from my fellow Mitters.
Yeah, but...... 1976.... cough, cough.
I just noticed this article is by Mitt’s old pal (not), Glen Johnson!!!! Remember him, kiddies?
Leni
Yes!
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