Mitt Romney Sweeps Northeastern Primaries
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JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Mitt Romney won the primaries in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania Tuesday night, padding his already seemingly insurmountable delegate lead in the Republican presidential nomination race, but rival Newt Gingrich vowed that “conservatism” will go “all the way to Tampa.”
Romney was expected to sweep all five states, where a total of 231 delegates are at stake. Turnout was low in all five states, according to local media reports.
In his speech after the first results were announced, Romney focused his attacks on President Obama, speaking as though the nomination were already decided.
Gingrich criticized Romney earlier Tuesday for preparing a speech that sounded like he was already the GOP nominee, but in his remarks Tuesday evening he said he was going to re-consider his continuing in the fight.
“We are committed to making sure that conservatism goes all the way to Tampa,” Gingrich said. “I want you all to understand that Gov. Romney is going to have a very good night. If he does end up as the nominee, every conservative in this country has to be committed to defeating Obama.”
“Callista and I got into this for our grandchildren,” he said. “I want you to know over the next few days we’re going to look realistically at where we are at. We’re going to be in North Carolina all week. I also want to do that as somebody who is a unifier and somebody who is realistic.”
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