Romney's Riding High - The Road to the White House - Election 2012 - Week 14

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Category: Beltway Insider

Published on Sunday, 08 April 2012 09:56

Written by Janet Walker

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Mitt Romney, the Republican Presidential Nominee hopeful, widened his lead over chief challenger Rick Santorum and virtually secured the GOP nomination with his recent three state sweep.

USA Today Political Poll Tracker as of April 8, 2012 places Romney, leading the pack in popularity, nationally, although dropping 0.1 percentage point over the week, at the top with 37.7%. Santorum, holding steady in the number two spot dropped 0.2 percentage points with 28.0%, Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, dropped 0.1 percentage point over the past week coming in at 14.2 % and Texas Representative Ron Paul gained 0.2 percentage points to end at 12.0%.

It was Romney’s week as all three states backed the GOP Presidential Nominee Designate apparent, in his quest to secure the Republican nomination. Wisconsin, a winner take all primary state, dangled forty-two delegates in front of the GOP challengers and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney reached out with a full court media blitz campaigning heavily, in each of the three states as the primary campaign season moves into the final stretch, and won all.

Wisconsin, home to the Green Bay Packers, lived up to their hard-charging reputation as 44.1% of the voter’s aligned themselves with front runner Mitt Romney, over chief challenger former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, who received 36.9% of the vote. Texas Representative Ron Paul scored 11.2% of the vote and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, admittingly low on campaign funding, 5.9%.

Washington, DC, also held its primary over the past week and held a few surprises as voter’s also aligned themselves with, the man of the hour, Mitt Romney with 37.7% of the vote. Surprisingly Ron Paul, in our nation’s capital, secured 24.8% over dominate contender Rick Santorum who ended third with 23.8%.  Newt Gingrich, operating on a shoestring budget, secured 10.3% of the votes.

Maryland’s GOP primary also held this past Tuesday gave Romney a total sweep for the week and the state with 49.2% of the voter resonating with his message. Santorum, a distant second, secured 28.9% of the votes. Gingrich and Paul received 10.9 and 9.5 percent of the votes respectfully.

Republican GOP Nominee apparent, Mitt Romney received a warm Southern California welcome at a recent fundraiser held at the Century Plaza Hotel, in Century City, California. The star studded attendance included power players from Entertainment and finance including genius powerhouse producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Bond Investor Fred Sands along with his wife Carla and TCW Chairman and CEO, Marc Stern and his wife, Eva.

Barring any cataclysmic disaster, meltdown or bombshell revelation, Mitt Romney will capture the GOP presidential nomination. With 484 delegates needed to secure, prior to the Republican National Convention in August, he has some way to go to hit to the magic number. With his recent sweep, he is virtually impossible to beat.

GOP hopefuls have two weeks without any contests.  The next hurdle, a five state primary, held on April 24 has 277 delegates up for grabs. The GOP hopefuls will be campaigning heavily to relay their message to the voters. Plum prizes on the April 24primary include 95 delegates from New York State and 72 from Santorum’s Pennsylvania. Connecticut brings 28 delegates, Rhode Island 19 and Delaware 17.

The 2012 Delegate Tracker, of the 2286 total available delegates, Mitt Romney has secured 660 delegates, Rick Santorum 281, Newt Gingrich; 135, and Ron Paul 51. To secure the Republican Nomination for President a candidate must receive 1,144 delegates.

Rick Santorum’s Campaign was interrupted this week as his three-year-old ailing daughter, Isabella, was rushed to the hospital. The family has asked for privacy during this time. Santorum’s has explained his daughter’s condition, Trisomy 18, a rare genetic disorder that is usually fatal for children in early stages of life. He has postponed Monday Campaign appearances.