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.
Very good post, sir.
I wouldn't be surprised if George Soros and other democRAT donors will be glad to give McCain all the cash he needs.
Excellent! It is nice and easy through Pay Pal, isn't it?
I don’t think he’s the underdog. There’s a ways to go and most of the major talk show hosts will be exposing more and more of McCain’s record.
ROFLMAO..... they're both liberals, I guess you mean because Mitt's a stinking dirty liar and McCain is somewhat honest?
He’s telling you the truth when he says he is pro-life,
_____________________________________________________
Debate Moderator
If abortion is morally wrong, arent you responsible for discouraging it ???
RINO Romney
***Crickets****
Romney at Debate with Teddy 1994
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI&feature=related
As Frank Sinatra sang:
Now, nothing is impossible....I've found that when my chin is on the ground
I pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again
Don't lose your confidence... if you slip be grateful for a pleasant trip
And pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again
You may be sick and tired, but be a man, my son
Will you remember the famous men who had to fall to rise again?
So pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again!
Leni
Ahhh, yet another mindless rant against Rush. Well let’s see, the man has and still commands considerable throughout all media, not just radio, as evidenced by the Drivebys taking all kinds of angles to bring Rush into the election story. The truth is that McCain has consitently and continually treated conservatism with dissrespect and contempt. While Mitt does have his issues to be sure, he is by far a batter man, and a better candiate for conservative support than is ol’ Mac the backstabbing knife.
:)
perhaps McCain just peaked and Romney will peak for the win.
If not, I just don't know what the heck I’ll do come the General election.
I’m reluctantly supporting him.
I know that was sarcasm but I agree.
McCain is worse than a RINO. McCain has a very vengeful personality. He has shown as strong desire to go out of his way to utterly screw conservatives. He is a pathological liar on par with Clinton.
McCain is a vile,Liberty hating man has shown contempt for the Constitution with CFR. McCain with his "gang of 14" cohorts has left open many Circuit Court seats, seats that could have been filled with strict constructionist.
McCain is a vengeful, petty man, has used the leftist class envy arguments against tax cuts (and lied to say he wanted spending cuts)
This vile, corrupt man has bought into the lie of AGW -- and as President would burden us untold taxes and regulations as a result.
This profit hating, capitalist hating man, with the McCain Liberman bill will help push the pharmaceutical industry offshore and result in more expensive medical care.
This deceitful man has called conservatives racists and bigots, just because we want to have secure borders and legal immigration (He now lies and says he will secure the border)
McCain has a power-lust and utter Contempt for our wonderful Constitution. He would push our beloved Republic into a socialist hell. And he would blame conservatives is for the destruction he would bring.
I know with certainty that McCain will do evil to our Republic.
Mitt would be a far superior choice to McCain. I believe that Mitt will honor his positions in his platform. He would respond positively to concerns of the conservative base. I believe Liberty would not diminish with Mitt.
It was not until the mid to late eighties that males began to come out in opposition to their spouses if necessary.
What caused that was the gradual loss and then total loss of the males rights and responsibilities as it applies to the unborn child and even after the birth. We found ourselves with nothing but the financial responsibilities for the actions of our sperm and no voice.
This caused many of us to rethink our positions.
Hope this helps you understand what he did, what I did, and what 10s of thousands of males in this country also did. This is why the percentages of pro abortion voters has decreased over the past two decades.
I understand Romney’s conversion. It was not really a conversion as he never accepted abortion as being moral. Romney;s problem was that he is male, and males in the 80s generally supported whatever the woman wanted to do.
______________________________________________________
In both 1994 and 2002 RRINO Romney was proud that his own mother had pushed abortion on demand since before 1970
That’s sick that’s a guy with a wicked heart
And he said his own love of slaughterikng innocent babies had also been going on since before 1970
This was in 1994 and 2002
In 2002 Romney was 55
Are you saying he still needed his Mommy to tell him how to think ???
He’s not fit for the White House if he still sucks his thumb
Flame away you abortion lovers
Isn't that going to be fun?
McCain might have actually saved his career. If Rush had been forced to defend Romney in a general election openly, he would forever lose most of the credibility he has or had.
I understand Romney’s conversion. It was not really a conversion as he never accepted abortion as being moral. Romney;s problem was that he is male, and males in the 80s generally supported whatever the woman wanted to do.
____________________________________________________
And RINO Romney NEVER accepted abortion as being immoral either
Debate Moderator
If abortion is morally wrong, arent you responsible for discouraging it ???
RINO Romney
***Crickets****
Romney at Debate with Teddy 1994
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI&feature=related
A little advice -- stop wasting your own money on this RINO and let him spend his own money.
A real conservative third-party candidate has a better chance of becoming President than Romney.
There isn't any difference between Romney and McCain. It's sad you have deluded yourself into thinking it matters which of these RINOs wins the nomination.
Give conservatives a conservative candidate to rally around and they would. Romney isn't that candidate and there is no chance of him winning anything.
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