Mitt Romney...whose real first name is actually, no kidding, Willard, was governor of Massachussetts and is currently the front-runner for president on the Publican ticket. He is the son of the former governor of Michigan, George Romney, who himself ran for president after saving American Motors from failure, though not permanently. Romney's foot is in an ideological bucket because of Romneycare, a state-level experiment that should have been a warning against Obamacare if anyone had been paying attention. Romney's charisma is best defined as soporific, which is probably why he is leading the Publican field...
effectively claimed the Republican presidential nomination as he revelled in a five-state primary sweep and urged voters to help him oust President Barack Obama
The campaign's over, John...
in November.
With wins Tuesday in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, according to US media forecasts, Romney essentially kicked off his general election campaign after months of tangling with Republican rivals.
"Tonight is the start of a new campaign," Romney told ecstatic supporters in New Hampshire -- scene of his first Republican primary victory back in January and a potentially pivotal general election battleground.
"Tonight is the beginning of the end of the disappointments of the Obama years -- and it's the start of a new and better chapter that we will write together."
He trounced former House speaker Newt Gingrich
...former Speaker of the House, author of the Contract with America. Gingrich gave the country welfare reform and a balanced budget and the Publicans a landslide House victory in 1994. On the downside, he has a roving eye and a loose fly, he's opinionated, and he's abrasive despite his ability to work with the other side of the political aisle...
and congressman Ron Paul, the two remaining Republicans in the race, in northeastern states that are largely friendly territory for Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts.
Romney basked in the glow of the clean sweep, and effectively staked his claim to the nomination.
"After 43 primaries and caucuses, many long days and not a few long nights, I can say with confidence -- and gratitude -- that you have given me a great honour and solemn responsibility," Romney told supporters.
"Together, we will win on November 6!"
Romney is still short of the 1,144 delegates needed to be crowned the official nominee at the Republican convention in late August, but most campaign watchers are treating him as the Democratic incumbent's challenger.