Romney Drops Out of Presidential Race

By Connect Mason News Director Elizabeth Stern

This afternoon, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney announced that he was dropping out of the presidential race during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.

Romney, who did not fare as well as competitor John McCain on Super Tuesday, claimed that he hoped this decision would strengthen the likelihood of a Republican president taking office.

“If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and, frankly, I’d make it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win,” he stated in his speech. “In this time of war, I cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.”

“I feel I have to stand aside for our party,” Romney also said, expressing that a Democrat in office “would retreat” from the war in Iraq.

Currently, McCain holds 714 pledged votes from state delegates, while Romney scored 286 votes. Romney withstood several obstacles throughout his campaign, including spotty success despite pouring millions of dollars during the race and the endorsement of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. Additionally, Romney was scrutinized for his religious affiliation, as well as changing his views on such issues as abortion and firearm regulations.

With the loss of Romney, the remaining Republican Party candidates include McCain, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul. McCain is clearly ahead of his current competitors, though there is speculation that Romney supporters who favored his policies would vote for Huckabee.

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton continue to battle in the primaries for the democratic presidential nomination.