Romney wins key US vote, blasts Obama
Thursday, 12 January 2012
MANCHESTER, Jan 11, (AFP): Mitt Romney stormed Tuesday to a commanding win in New Hampshire's Republican presidential primary, making him the clear favorite to take on President Barack Obama in November.
The former Massachusetts governor and millionaire venture capitalist immediately looked to South Carolina's January 21 primary, hoping a victory there and in Florida on January 31 could effectively anoint him the nominee.
Obama "has run out of ideas. Now, he's running out of excuses. And tonight, we are asking the good people of South Carolina to join the citizens of New Hampshire and make 2012 the year he runs out of time," he declared.
Public opinion polls showed Romney leading his more conservative rivals in both of the next battlegrounds-large states where his well-oiled, well-funded campaign machine could roll up the opposition.
Based on partial results, Romney was set to win here easily-the first time since 1976 that a Republican candidate who is not an incumbent president won this contest and the Iowa caucuses that precede it.
With 83 percent of the ballots counted, Romney was storming to victory with some 39 percent of the vote.
After surviving a furious 11th-hour onslaught from his Republican rivals, who tarred him as a callous corporate raider who put people out of work, Romney defiantly trumpeted his business experience as his number-one asset.
"Make no mistake, in this campaign, I will offer the American ideals of economic freedom a clear and unapologetic defense," said Romney.
Romney has insisted that his private sector triumphs make him the best person to take on Obama, whose reelection bid is weighed down by the sagging US economy and high unemployment.
Obama "wants to put free enterprise on trial. In the last few days, we have seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him. This is such a mistake for our party and for our nation," he declared.
"This country already has a leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy. We must offer an alternative vision. I stand ready to lead us down a different path, where we are lifted up by our desire to succeed, not dragged down by a resentment of success," said Romney.
Veteran Representative Ron Paul of Texas, a small-government champion whose opposition to overseas military interventions has rankled the party's establishment, was expected to come in second with around 23 percent.
"We're nibbling at his heels!" Paul told a rowdy crowd of supporters, who chanted "President Paul!"
"We have had a victory for the cause of liberty tonight," he said.
Former US envoy to China Jon Huntsman, who bet his political fortunes on a strong showing here, was on track to come in third with around 17 percent, after a late surge tied to a strong weekend debate performance and a newfound combativeness.
The former Massachusetts governor and millionaire venture capitalist immediately looked to South Carolina's January 21 primary, hoping a victory there and in Florida on January 31 could effectively anoint him the nominee.
Obama "has run out of ideas. Now, he's running out of excuses. And tonight, we are asking the good people of South Carolina to join the citizens of New Hampshire and make 2012 the year he runs out of time," he declared.
Public opinion polls showed Romney leading his more conservative rivals in both of the next battlegrounds-large states where his well-oiled, well-funded campaign machine could roll up the opposition.
Based on partial results, Romney was set to win here easily-the first time since 1976 that a Republican candidate who is not an incumbent president won this contest and the Iowa caucuses that precede it.
With 83 percent of the ballots counted, Romney was storming to victory with some 39 percent of the vote.
After surviving a furious 11th-hour onslaught from his Republican rivals, who tarred him as a callous corporate raider who put people out of work, Romney defiantly trumpeted his business experience as his number-one asset.
"Make no mistake, in this campaign, I will offer the American ideals of economic freedom a clear and unapologetic defense," said Romney.
Romney has insisted that his private sector triumphs make him the best person to take on Obama, whose reelection bid is weighed down by the sagging US economy and high unemployment.
Obama "wants to put free enterprise on trial. In the last few days, we have seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him. This is such a mistake for our party and for our nation," he declared.
"This country already has a leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy. We must offer an alternative vision. I stand ready to lead us down a different path, where we are lifted up by our desire to succeed, not dragged down by a resentment of success," said Romney.
Veteran Representative Ron Paul of Texas, a small-government champion whose opposition to overseas military interventions has rankled the party's establishment, was expected to come in second with around 23 percent.
"We're nibbling at his heels!" Paul told a rowdy crowd of supporters, who chanted "President Paul!"
"We have had a victory for the cause of liberty tonight," he said.
Former US envoy to China Jon Huntsman, who bet his political fortunes on a strong showing here, was on track to come in third with around 17 percent, after a late surge tied to a strong weekend debate performance and a newfound combativeness.