Subscribe by RSSMitt Romney suspended his presidential campaign Thursday, telling a stunned conservative group that continuing his uphill battle against John McCain would hurt the Republican Party and make it more likely that the Democratic candidate would win the general election in November.
“If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator (Hillary) Clinton or (Barack) Obama would win,†Romney told the Conservative Political Action Conference. “And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror,†he said.
No big surprise here, Romney got his lunch handed to him on Super Tuesday thanks mainly to Mike Huckabee(as much as he would like to deny it)splitting the conservative vote. The only thing I found odd was that he gave a speech just a day ago that he would press on.
This tells me that the RNC must have pressured him to drop, so I believe this is a strategy coming from the Party rather than Romney himself. Expect Huckabee to hang around longer now. Will this do anything to help Ron Paul? I think most likely not. Ron Paul’s republican ship has sailed without him, his only chance now would be to run on the Libertarian ticket against both parties.
By suspending his campaign, Romney is still able to receive donations. I can’t think of any reason why he would do so with the exceptions of either a future bid in the next election or running on an independent ticket, the latter being highly unlikely I would think.
Update by Nate:
Here’s some video of Romney’s emotional goodbye, courtesy Hot Air:
As we mentioned on Super Tuesday during the radio show, if anyone looked to be dropping out after the voting, it would have been Romney. He didn’t bring in the votes he absolutely needed to continue.
It’s now down to a McCain/Huckabee battle, and that’s not looking like much of a battle. I’d say Ron Paul as well, but, for him to benefit, every Republican candidate would need to withdraw.
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MIKE HUCKABEE!!!
GO MIKE GO!!!
HUCKABEE IS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE!!!
He also keeps his delegate, that being (I suppose) the more pressing reason; if he were to formally drop out, they would be free to choose someone else.
Huckawho?
We’ll miss you Mitt.
Go Romney 2012!!
I agree with you. I think Mitt was pressured by the party to step aside. If he really wanted to stick it to McCain, he could give all his delegates to Huckabee.
I have a question on Mitt’s departure….if he gets to keep his delegates, does that mean that he can “give” them to the candidate of his choice later on? It seems to me that it would be an unfair situation if one of the current contenders falters, that Romney could step in and say, yep, I am outta here but I am endorsing ____ and here are all my delegates…is this possible scenario?? If it is, that is surely unfair to all the voters who voted for Romney, and who may or may not have voted for his endorsee. I am hoping I am wrong on this…
What a dumb speech. Im a republican but i hate the use of the politics of fear. Of de democrats get chosen we arent less safe. Brack is’nt going to shut down the military, the CIA and the FBI.
They are going to raise taxes though. Therefore: Ron Paul 2008!