The former Massachusetts governor trained his sights on President Barack Obama, as party strategists said the contest for a candidate to face him in November’s general election was all but over.
Mr Romney arrived in South Carolina, the next state to vote, 10 points ahead in opinion polls. At the same time he unleashed a barrage of advertising in Florida, site of the fourth contest on Jan 31.
The show of strength came after he became the first Republican presidential challenger since the modern primary system began 35 years ago to win both the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire poll.
“Tonight, we made history,” he told supporters at a rally in Manchester. He promised to oust Mr Obama from the White House and “restore America to the founding principles that made this country great”.
Denouncing Mr Obama as a “failed president”, he added: “Tonight we are asking the good people of South Carolina to join the citizens of New Hampshire and make 2012 the year he runs out of time”. » | Jon Swaine, Manchester | Wednesday, January 11, 2012
