‘A double-digit shellacking’. That’s how Gingrich endorser Herman Cain described Mitt Romney’s 14-point win over Newt Gingrich in last night’s Florida primary. It has certainly helped Romney get over the drubbing Gingrich gave him in South Carolina ten days ago, and recertifies him as the presumptive nominee. A big Gingrich win would’ve blown the race wide open. Instead, Romney comes away with a commanding lead in both votes cast and delegates pledged.
Romney’s victory speech (above) was almost a rerun of the one he gave in New Hampshire three weeks ago. Then, he tried to cast himself as the inevitable Republican nominee, aiming his attacks at Barack Obama and calling for the party to unite behind him. But it turned out to be a bit premature: he lost to Gingrich by 13-points in South Carolina. So last night he tried again: once again calling for ‘a united party’ and once again training his fire on Obama. And this time, Romney may be right: it’s hard to see Gingrich overcoming Romney’s financial and organisational advantages now.
But, of course, Newt Gingrich doesn’t see it that way. He didn’t call his rival to concede, as Romney did after South Carolina. And in his speech last night – surrounded by a crowd waving ’46 states to go’ placards – he didn’t congratulate Romney on his victory but instead attacked him, again, as a ‘Massachusetts moderate’. It’s clear that Gingrich has no intention of dropping out yet, despite his big loss in Florida.
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