Romney Clinches GOP Nomination - The Road to the White House - Election 2012 - Week 22

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Willard Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts, had clinched the Republican nomination earning the right to represent the GOP in the November general election for President of the United States.

 With the candidates chosen and campaigns focusing on November’s general election, according to Gallup, as of June 2, 2012 among registered voters President Obama’s national popularity dropped a single percentage point this week to 46% and Mitt Romney held steady at 45%. Obama’s current overall ratings, according to Gallup, dropped two percentage points over the past week to 46% approve and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President remained at 46%.

Marching through the primaries since the departure of chief challenger Senator Rick Santorum, Romney’s repeated victory’s erased any lingering doubt and has been known as the presumptive GOP presidential nominee for weeks. Officially clinching the nomination Romney added another big win with over 71% of voter’s connecting with his moderate conservative platform and Take Back America message.

His victory, after a long and arduous primary season, caps a campaign riddled with strife, name calling, mud-slinging and agonizing defeats throughout to his primary competitor, former Senator Rick Santorum.

Romney stated in his victory speech, "I am honored that Americans across the country have given their support to my candidacy and I am humbled to have won enough delegates to become the Republican Party's 2012 presidential nominee."

Election 2012, Romney verses Obama, is shaping up to be focused on the recession and its long term fiscal ramifications across all socio-economic levels. With the recent released job creation reports indicating only 69,000 new jobs were added in May, the recession, like a hurricane, may have just slowed long enough to gain strength.

Although voters may find Romney’s Mormon beliefs and moderate conservative platform an obstacle; his business acumen is clearly at a superior level.  His record in the private sector testifies to his  strong economic leadership and savvy. Other hot topics will be the Defense of Marriage Act, Same Sex relationships and constitutional freedoms for all citizens and should state referendums determine the legality of Same-Sex Marriage.

With the Republican Party united with one goal the next major hurdle for Mitt Romney is his choice of a running mate. His running mate must have cross demographic appeal, strong foreign policy knowledge, seasoned political leadership and someone who can upset Obama’s minority fortress. Of the names tossed around former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who would appeal to both minorities and females or Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal float to the surface.

The primary season continues with the final two: Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota and California with a golden prize of 172 delegates, on June 5 and the last primary Utah on June 26.

As the dust settles in the 2012 Delegate Tracker totals for all candidates have been adjusted. Of the 2286 total available delegates, Mitt Romney has secured 1,191 delegates and has secured the GOP nomination for President of the United States. At this time Rick Santorum holds 265 delegates, Newt Gingrich; 138, and Ron Paul, 137.

The Republican National Convention is schedule for August in Tampa Bay, Florida where Mitt Romney and his running mate will officially kick off their campaign for President and Vice-President of the United States of America.