Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's fate seems almost sealed after yesterday's Super Tuesday elections. And the news is not good for the Bay State G.O.P. faithful.
Romney beat out Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the Massachusetts primary, but he won only a small fraction of the remaining states in last night's elections. At the end of the day, the former governor's campaign seemed close to an end.
McCain had won nine states at press time, including the delegate-heavy prize state of California, while Romney had emerged victorious in six primaries or caucuses.
For the first time in this election cycle, McCain openly celebrated his frontrunner status. "Tonight, I think we must get used to the idea that we are the Republican Party frontrunner for the nomination of president of the United States," the Arizona senator said last night, according to CNN.com. "And I don't really mind it one bit."
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee played spoiler to Romney in many states, splitting the conservative vote and even winning five states. Perhaps most surprisingly, Huckabee took West Virginia, which Romney had expected to win. Huckabee finished with 52 percent of the vote, and Romney won 47 percent.
Romney won Massachusetts with 51 percent of the vote to McCain's 41. The former governor won Medford by a similar margin, taking 52 percent of the vote to McCain's 40. But McCain supporters won Somerville, winning 46 percent to Romney's 42.
Exit polls demonstrated that the economy was the most important issue to Massachusetts Republican voters yesterday, with 45 percent in a CNN.com poll listing it first. And 58 percent of Massachusetts Republican voters said that they believed Romney to be the most qualified to handle the economy, which recently has been threatening a recession.
"With his business background, it's what the economy needs today," Medford voter Michelle Zizzo said of the former businessman after leaving the polling station at Tufts' Gantcher Center yesterday. "I felt confident."
