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.
This is like 1976 - Romney is Reagan, and McCain is Ford.
In 1976, Reagan lost the early states, but gathered steam and started winning and brought it to the convention.
Romney got 31% in NH, 39% in MI and 31% in FL. He has been competitive and close in more states than MCCain, who ran nowhere in WY and NV and 3rd in Iowa.
Are you in the tank for John McCain? Are you pro-amnesty?
Dont you know that - Better a convert than a traitor!
RINO MCCAIN DOESNT FIT - VOTE FOR MITT.
Are you supporting the Huckster ? That’s what your master is doing ....
Amen to that! Mitt's not giving up and neither should we. In fact, we should all donate to the Super Tuesday, Stop McCain Fund to show our resolve(found on mittromney.com)!
Thanks ,looks like no matter who get the Republican nod they will need some deep pockets to catch up with Hillary or Obama. Another reason why Mccain will have to turn right to get support.
Why don't you lay off Rush, pisspot. He made most of us what we are today.....and he always gives us his best shot, right or wrong.
You're exultant, tonight, aren't you....that our country and the conservative cause took an apparent hosing.
But don't be too sure that things will continue to go your nasty way.
Leni
The MSM changes their mind more than my wife!!
All we heard last summer. guliani was king, McCain was DOA, and When is Fred getting in?
No McCain is king, Fred is Dead, and Rudy is rejected.....and stealing votes from Romney as well.
I just wish the media would go back to reporting the news rather than making up the news.
Two years of political campaigning and I am sick sick sick.
Where’s the candidates?? Up down in out.........
My master? LOL. Only fredheads had a master, even crafting a false biography for their idol.
But no, no schmuckleberry for me, though he is certainly no worse than McStain or Rudy.
Huh? I thought you were a fredhead
Keep fighting Mitt.....we got Freepers all across the country hanging in with ya.... don’t ever return to any leftist policies.... your wife would make an excellent first lady just like Laura Bush.
Mitt Romney is the anti-McCain. Anyone who does not want John McCain to be the GOP nominee must now rally behind Romney for President.
The media has been pumping up McCain because a poll told them that Democrats could live with a McCain as President if their own didn’t succeed.
A 3rd choice for the Democrats is DEFINITELY NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR REPUBLICANS!!!!!
Romney has a sinister look in his eye anyhow.
He would be stupid to give up at this point. If he gets trounced next week it is a different story, but he better get the gloves off. McCain treated him like a punching bag.
I think Mitt is done. I don’t see him doing much next week.
His campaign was all about him and his money, not about leadership.
We are now stuck with McPain , our new “leader” .....
Ready for Executive Order Amnesty ?
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