As the end of the primaries comes ever closer, it looks like Mitt Romney might end up having the Republican candidacy after all.
With the win in the Wisconsin primary, many think it is likely Romney will be the GOP candidate. Although Rick Santorum might not be out of the running quite yet; he still trails Romney, but with many big-ticket states coming up, he still has a chance.
Romney won the Wisconsin, Maryland and D.C. primaries April 3. The Texas primary was also supposed to be held April 3 along with Wisconsin, Maryland and D.C. but had to be postponed until May 29 due to redistricting.
The past three wins put Romney’s delegate total at 658, past the halfway mark for total delegates needed to receive the nomination, though he is still a long stretch from the total needed to take the candidacy, which is 1,144.
Romney leads the race, winning 18 states plus D.C., with Rick Santorum at a relatively close 11 states, Newt Gingrich falling at two states, and Ron Paul with none.
The next string of GOP primaries, featuring Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania (Santorum’s coveted home state, which Romney seems to have a hold on) and Rhode Island, will be held April 24.
Pennsylvania seems to be the controversial state of the next batch, with many agreeing Romney might take it from under Santorum’s feet. According to new surveys, Romney leads Santorum in the running for his home states after his speech there last Thursday.
As he gathers speed through the GOP primaries, Romney is also gaining some new endorsements from National Republican Congressional Committee chairman representative Pete Sessions of Texas. Also joining “Team Romney” are Texas Reps. John Carter and Mac Thornberry. Even though they are turning their backs on one of their own, I can see why the Texas representatives would back Romney rather than Paul.
Texas does like to be on the winning, or at least the more popular, side of things. No offense, Paul — I love you and everything, but it’s just not gonna happen.
With the Republican candidates we have stepping up, many people look at the Republican nomination as a matter of “I’d rather have this one than that one.” This is what I’ve been hearing the most with young voters, or any voters for that matter: They’d rather have Romney than Santorum, though they don’t much like either.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind having Romney as the president too much, but I am honestly at a loss for whom I would vote for. I want to say Romney, but there are still many things I find wrong with his platform, and I just can’t help feeling a little sympathetic toward President Barack Obama. He just seems like such a cool dude, so I want him to turn some of this nonsense around. I think I’d also rather have Michelle stay as first lady rather than Ann jumping in there.
With the flack Obama has been getting the past four years along with the serious hate Santorum is getting and the feeling of “settling” Romney has, I have no idea how the presidential election is really going to turn out.
The GOP race officially ends Tuesday, June 26, with Utah. With roughly two months and 19 states left to claim, Santorum might still have a chance.