Where Jacksonville Listens Live for Severe Weather and Breaking News
Hi, (not you?) | Member Center | Sign Out
Posted: 3:41 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008
By Jamie Dupree
Just a week after Mitt Romney suspended his presidential bid, his move to endorse John McCain gives even more closure to the race for the GOP nomination.
While McCain and Romney tangled repeatedly - and at times caustically - during their nomination battle, Romney's move gives even more impetus to McCain's call for Republican party unity.
It also increases the pressure on Mike Huckabee to end his campaign, especially with the news that Huckabee is going out of the country this weekend to give a previously scheduled speech in the Cayman Islands.
McCain was already campaigning in New England when the Romney endorsement story broke, so he only had to go from next door in Rhode Island to Boston to get the former Massachusetts Governor's public backing.
McCain will be able to use this endorsement, along with others from people like Gary Bauer, to make the case to conservatives that he understands their concerns, but that it is time for All Good Republicans to get on the bandwagon, especially when you look at how motivated the Democrats have been during the primaries.
Also, with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton still battling it out, the chances for fissures on the Democratic side could certainly outweigh those on the GOP end.
Is this the greatest thing to happen to McCain this year? Probably not. But it's still an important piece of the Election Puzzle for him. Better to have Romney (and many of his delegates too) than have Romney quietly showing his support for a Conservative Insurrection Against McCain.
© 2013 Cox Media Group. By using this website,
you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices
.
Already have an account? Sign In
{* #registrationForm *} {* traditionalRegistration_displayName *} {* traditionalRegistration_emailAddress *} {* traditionalRegistration_password *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirm *}Already have an account? Sign In
{* #registrationFormBlank *} {* registration_firstName *} {* registration_lastName *} {* traditionalRegistration_displayName *} {* traditionalRegistration_emailAddressBlank *} {* registration_birthday *} {* registration_gender *} {* registration_postalZip *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordBlank *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirmBlank *} {* agreeToTerms *}We have sent you a confirmation email. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account.
We look forward to seeing you frequently. Visit us and sign in to update your profile, receive the latest news and keep up to date with mobile alerts.
Don't worry, it happens. We'll send you a link to create a new password.
{* #forgotPasswordForm *} {* forgotPassword_emailAddress *}We have sent you an email with a link to change your password.
We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. Your existing password has not been changed.
To sign in you must verify your email address. Fill out the form below and we'll send you an email to verify.
{* #resendVerificationForm *} {* resendVerification_emailAddress *}Check your email for a link to verify your email address.


You're Almost Done!
Select a display name and password
{* #socialRegistrationForm *} {* socialRegistration_displayName *} {* socialRegistration_emailAddress *} {* traditionalRegistration_password *} {* traditionalRegistration_passwordConfirm *}Tell us about yourself
{* registration_firstName *} {* registration_lastName *} {* registration_postalZip *} {* registration_birthday *} {* registration_gender *} {* agreeToTerms *}