Republican Romney wins big in Florida primary

Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney won big time in Florida primary polling 46 percent of the vote while his rival Newt Gingrich bagged only 32 percent.

Romney’s victory is particularly significant, coming ahead of Super Tuesday on 6 March when 10 states hold primaries and caucuses.

The other two contenders, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul lagged behind, polling 13 percent and 7 percent respectively.

The former Massachusetts governor spent a staggering $16m in Florida in January, campaigning with over 13,000 TV ads against Gingrich’s 200.

A victorious Romney told a rally in Tampa ballroom on Tuesday night: “Together we will build an America where hope is a new job with a paycheck, not a faded word on an old bumper sticker”.

But Gingrich did not appear ready to drop out of the race, he is heading to Nevada on Wednesday. “It is now clear that this will be a two-person race between the conservative leader Newt Gingrich and the Massachusetts moderate,” he said despite the defeat.

Meanwhile President Barack Obama’s campaign attacked Romeny in a statement, and it prompted analysts to say it is a clear sign of Romney becoming the possible Republican candidate.

Obama for America said: “The more voters get to know Mitt Romney and understand his record not as a job creator, as he claims, but as a corporate buyout specialist who as governor drove his state to 47th in job creation, the more they dislike him.”

Poorna Rodrigo