By AARON HOLMES – Features Writer
As the republican presidential primary election continues, candidate Mitt Romney, R-Mass., approaches the nomination win and shifts his focus to the general election.
On April 25, republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, R-Mass., carried on his primary election winning streak in Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and New York.
Romney, who currently holds 847 of the primary election delegates according to the New York Times, is quickly approaching the 1144 delegates necessary to win the republican nomination and to become President Barack Obama’s presidential challenger in the 2012 election.
Rick Santorum, R-Penn., who suspended his presidential campaign earlier this month, has 260 delegates. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., has 137, according to usnews.com.
Gingrich, who has won primaries in only two of 34 states so far, unofficially suspended his campaign on April 25 when he made pro-Romney statements in a Charlotte, NC speech.
“It’s pretty clear that Romney will be the republican nominee,” Gingrich said.
With Gingrich and Santorum no longer in the running, Romney’s only challenger is Ron Paul (R-Texas). However, as referenced by the Times, Paul holds only 80 delegate votes to date.
As the primary nears its close, Romney has stated that he is positive about his inevitable run against Obama. Romney stated that he believes his economic plan is superior to Obama’s, and he is optimistic as to how American people will feel, according to the Times.
“I presented a plan for job and economic growth including 59 different proposals,” Romney said. “Some people are amused that I have so many ideas, but I think the American people will prefer it to Obama’s grand total of zero.”
Since his election in 2008, President Obama has reduced the national deficit by $150 billion, according to American Broadcasting System News. The Obama campaign has begun to focus on Romney as a serious challenger, using economic statistics and facts to criticize him.
David Plouffe, an Obama campaign adviser, condemned Romney for his various tax cut plans, likening them to the strategies of conservative senator Paul Ryan (R-WI), according to the Times.
“It’s really the Romney-Ryan plan,” Plouffe said. “It showers huge tax cuts on millionaires and billionaires paid for by seniors and veterans.”
As well as criticizing Romney, the Obama campaign has also run ads and visited twelve states in 2012 in preparation for the general election in November, as stated by the Times.
After his overwhelming victory in the New England primaries, Romney delivered a speech to a crowd of supporters in New Hampshire.
“A better America starts tonight,” Romney said.
In an interview with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, Romney had another message for President Obama.
“Start packing,” Romney said.
