Video: Romney now the clear frontrunner
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Mitt Romney says he's not worried about the poor
Mitt Romney on the Starting Point on CNNCredit: www.youtube.com/bluepoint951www.cnn.com
Mitt Romney's decisive victory in the Florida primary increases the likelihood that he will be the Republican Party nominee in next November's US presidential election. Mr Romney's success in the Sunshine State more than recovers any ground he lost following his defeat by Newt Gingrich in the South Carolina primary on January 21.
With victories in the Florida and New Hampshire primaries as well as a dead-heat finish in the Iowa caucuses under his belt, Mr Romney is clearly the choice of the Republic Party establishment to go toe-to-toe with Barack Obama next November.
While 46 states have yet to select the delegates who will formally nominate the party's presidential candidate at next August's Republic Party convention, which will ironically take place at Tampa, Florida, it is already clear that Mr Romney is the frontrunner.
While the other contenders, such as Mr Gingrich, may more accurately reflect the opinions of the party's grassroots, that's not how the Republicans conduct their business.
In practice, the Republic Party hierarchy weighs in early on the side of the contender deemed to be most "electable". This time round, that mantle has clearly fallen on Mr Romney. Unless he slips up badly, he is almost certain to secure the Republic nomination.
This will set up a fascinating contest with Mr Obama. It's no secret that the Republican candidate most feared by the Obama administration is Mr Romney. The president and his aides recognise that the moderate former governor of Massachusetts will be a formidable opponent. Let battle commence.
