Romney’s victory party at the Red Rock Casino here on the outskirts of the city burst into applause as the big-screen televisions, turned to Fox News, announced that Romney had won right at 7 p.m. Pacific time.
Making a hard pivot to the general election, Romney didn’t even mention his Republican primary opponents during his 10-minute address - using all of his rhetorical energy to criticize President Obama.
“America needs a president who can fix the economy because he understands the economy. And I do, and I will,’’ Romney said. “This is a president who began his presidency by apologizing for America. He should now be apologizing to America.’’
Romney, who came into the state the heavy favorite, won among nearly every group of voters to capture his third win out of the first five states to vote.
The victory, coming four days after an overwhelming win in Florida, solidifies Romney’s front-runner status and prevented Gingrich from rebounding.
Representative Joe Heck, a Nevada Republican and one of Romney’s top congressional supporters, called on the former House speaker last night to drop out of the race.
Gingrich said he had no such plans, pledging to stay in the race until the Republican National Convention in August. He said hoped to catch up to Romney, who now leads in the delegate count, by early April.
“We will continue the campaign all the way to Tampa,’’ Gingrich said at a press conference, held in lieu of a traditional election-night party. “The vast majority of Americans will want an alternative to a Massachusetts moderate.’’
He also criticized Romney as a politician who deliberately deceives voters and accused the former Massachusetts governor of spreading rumors that Gingrich would leave the race.
