Sun Shines on Romney in Florida GOP Primary
Updated from 7:54 p.m. ET to reflect 84% of Florida's precincts reporting voting results.
NEW YORK (
) -- Mitt Romney rolled to victory Tuesday night in the Florida Republican presidential primary as voters flocked to the former Massachusetts governor following two solid debate performances and a relentless advertising campaign.
Romney won the crucial early primary race with 47% of the vote with 84% of precincts reporting with Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul trailing the frontrunner at 32%, 13% and 7% of the vote, respectively, according to
The Associated Press
.
Mitt Romney |
""This campaign is about more than replacing a President," Romney said in his victory speech to supporters. "It is about saving the soul of America. President Obama and I have two very different visions of America."
Romney grabbed 50 delegates from the winner-take-all state and he seized the delegate count from Gingrich as the
race heads West for Nevada's Feb. 4 caucuses.
Romney's campaign should be heavily favored in Nevada as he won there with 51% of the vote in the 2008 GOP primary. A large number of Mormons in Nevada expect to vote Saturday for Romney.
Republican presidential hopeful
Buddy Roemer said in an interview that a Romney victory in Florida, contrary to what some people might predict, wouldn't guarantee him the nomination.
"I keep thinking the race is going to be over, I think it's just started," Roemer said. "It's too early, it's wide open; Romney has no hold."
-- Written by Joe Deaux in New York.
>Contact by
.
>Follow Joe Deaux on
. Subscribe on
.
