Mitt Romney wins Nevada with largest margin of victory so far
Mitt Romeny won his second straight decisive victory, winning big in Saturday’s Nevada caucus over Newt Gingrich, who says he will stay in the race.
According to CBS News, Romney is already projected to win with 71 percent of Nevada’s precincts reporting. The former Governor of Massachusetts won 48 percent of the vote, compared to just 23 percent for former House Speaker Gingrich. Texas Congressman Ron Paul won 19 percent, while former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum finished with just 11 percent.
In his victory speech to supporters, Romney said, “This isn’t the first time you gave me your vote of confidence, but this time I’m going to take it to the White House,” in reference to his win in the state in 2008, according to CNN. Romney also sent more attacks towards President Obama, showing jsut how confident he is that he will win the Republican nomination. “This president began his presidency by apologizing for America. He should now be apologizing to America,” he said.
Despite the setback, Gingrich pans to continue on, hoping that he can still win primaries on Super Tuesday on March 6. On that day, several Southern states head to the polls, including his home state of Georgia. Gingrich’s only victory so far has come in South Carolina, where he beat Romney with 40 percent of the vote. According to Bloomberg, Gingrich told supporters Saturday that changes will have to be made to his campaign, but said, “I also believe that the vast majority of Republicans across the country are going to want an alternative to a Massachusetts moderate who has in his career been pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-tax increase.”
Romney’s victory was predicted, as it was seen as home turf. Most of the state’s Mormon population vote Republican and they made up a quarter of all Republican caucus goers, reports the New York Times. However, Romney was able to win with the support of many who identified them as conservative, Tea Party supporters and evangelical Christians, all groups that have headily favored Gingrich in the past.
Romney now has 81 delegates compared to Gingrich’s 27.
