Romney leaves the race

By Michelle Westgate
Staff Writer

Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.) formally suspended his campaign Thursday during a speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Committee Convention.

“This isn’t an easy decision,” said Romney. “I hate to lose,” he said.

Many speculate that Romney’s withdrawal gives Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) a guarantee to the nomination for the Republicans in the general election.

“Romney’s announcement effectively ends the Republican race,” said Mark Landis, the chairperson for the political science department. McCain will now be able to focus on the presidential race, instead of the battle for the nomination, he added.

Richard Himelfarb, an associate professor of political science, is "certain" that McCain will be the Republican nominee for the November election.

With Romney out of the race, no other candidate will be able to overcome McCain’s current lead. “Huckabee is so far behind that he is not going to catch up,” he said.

Landis speculated that Huckabee may soon withdraw from the race as well.

Although Romney has not officially endorsed McCain, his statement today seemed to suggest that Republicans should come together for the sake of the nation. He explained that his campaign was hindering the protection of the U.S.

“In this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror,” said Romney.

According to Landis, Romney’s choice to suspend his campaign, rather than quit, allows him to continue receiving federally-matched funds for contributions received. However, suspending his campaign does not give him total control over the delegates he has already won.

“Suspending his campaign allows Romney to keep his delegates he won at the congressional district level in past primaries and caucuses,” said Landis. “Delegates won at the state level are now released from him and will be allocated in a manner to be determined by those states’ Republican Party committees,” he said.

In response to Romney’s withdrawal, McCain expressed that he is not slowing down. In an AP interview today, he said “We’re continuing campaigning and not taking anything for granted."