Romney Wins Maine, but by less than 50%

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Romney's win in Maine reminds us that he is able to win in the northeast where the establishment has a choke hold, and the liberal mindset runs wild. However, none of Mitt Romney's wins have been by more than 50%, while Santorum, in Missouri, though this one was nonbinding, won 55% of the vote in that State. In Minnesota Santorum walked away with 45%, and in Colorado he won with 40%. Romney pulled of a 46% win in Florida, but two of his other wins (Maine and New Hampshire) gave him on only 39% in each.  Nevada was right at 50%. Also, out of nine so far, Romney has only won four. Is that the kind of numbers the front runner is supposed to be putting up?

For those out there that have all but crowned Romney the winner of the Republican nomination, it is important to understand there are still over 40 States remaining, and Romney only does well where there is a significant leftist presence. That means the conservative interior States, and the South, will likely go to Santorum (or Gingrich if he has one last surge in him).

The Establishment will tell you that Romney is the only hope because he is moderate, and the conservatives scare away the independents. I am here to tell you it is the opposite. The more conservative the candidate the bigger the margin of victory against Obama. In fact, I think that Romney is dang near a guaranteed loser against Obama because there isn't a whole lot of difference between them. Romney claims he's a conservative, but he did not start out that way, and he is not conservative at his core. Does he wish to be more conservative? Perhaps. But ultimately, he is still a big government guy, and you can tell by the way he ran Massachusetts as their governor.

If Romney was truly intelligent, he would see this, and bow out. His presence is moving us toward a brokered convention, and I think it is there that his left leaning ideas will lose. Besides, like I said, Obama would beat him in the general election. In my opinion, the most electable is the most conservative, and right now, that seems to be Santorum.

Remember, Reagan lost to Ford in 1976, and was considered unelectable by the Establishment in 1980. Yet, Reagan's conservative approach won over the voters, including a large number of democrats, and in 1984 he carried 49 States.

Conservatism wins because people have recognized that liberalism fails whenever it is tried. Obama is a failed president with a failed liberal ideology, and people are looking for a contrast through someone like Santorum. . . not liberal light in someone like Romney.

Oh, one more thing. Santorum did not participate in Maine, yet still garnered 18% of the vote.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

CNN Election Center, Republican Results

2012 Maine Caucuses - Fox News