WASHINGTON,7 February 2012(AP): Front-running Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney battles this week to pick up more delegates in three US states as the race to challenge President Barack Obama in November shifts into a quieter period and Romney tries to position himself as the clear choice for the nomination.His three opponents are vowing to stay in the race despite the former Massachusetts governor’s big back-to-back victories in Florida and Nevada last week, his powerful campaign organization and a massive financial advantage. Colorado and Minnesota hold caucuses Tuesday, and Maine ends its caucuses on Saturday. February promises to be as plodding as January was rapid-fire. Nearly two full days after Nevada voters cast votes in the state caucus meetings, the state party reported Monday that Romney finished with 50 percent. Newt Gingrich was second with 21 percent, edging out Ron Paul, who had 19 percent of the vote. Rick Santorum finished last with 10 percent. Only 32,963 voters participated in the Republican caucuses, far short of the 44,000 Republicans who voted in the 2008 sessions. Romney also won the caucuses four years ago, during his first run for the White House. Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, has been thrashed by nearly unprecedented negative television advertising from Romney supporters. He promised, nevertheless, to battle on to the party’s national nominating convention in August. Gingrich said his goal was to “find a series of victories which by the end of the Texas primary will leave us at parity” with Romney by early April. Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, and Texas Rep. Paul also say they are determined to keep up the fight. All three are banking on the support of the conservative Republican base that is suspicious of Romney’s political history, including former support for abortion and gay rights. What’s more, health care reforms instituted when he was Massachusetts governor became the template for a national overhaul of the US system under Obama. Conservatives vow to revoke the plan should they regain the White House and expand their power in Congress. Gingrich is hoping for a strong showing on March 6, the so-called “Super Tuesday,” when 11 states hold Republican nominating contests, including several Southern states which the former Georgia congressman sees as friendly terrain. The libertarian Paul maintained the Nevada results show voters are still up for grabs. “I get energized because I know there’s a large number of people who are looking for another option,” Paul said. Romney’s victory capped a week that began with his double-digit win in the Florida primary. That contest was as intense as Nevada’s caucuses were sedate—so quiet that they produced little television advertising and no debates. It will take 1,144 delegates to win the Republican nomination. So far Romney has 101, including endorsements from Republican National Committee members who will automatically attend the convention and can support any candidate they choose. Gingrich has 32, Santorum 17 and Paul nine.
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