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Republican Romney leads in Illinois poll over Santorum
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1 of 5. Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign stop at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois March 19, 2012.
Credit: Reuters/Frank Polich
CHICAGO |
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney may be headed for an important victory in Illinois on Tuesday that would help him put more distance between himself and Rick Santorum, his chief rival for the Republican presidential nomination.
Romney leads the conservative Santorum by 45 percent to 30 percent in Illinois, in a poll by Public Policy Polling. Former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich had 12 percent and libertarian congressman Ron Paul, 10 percent.
An American Research Group survey found a similar result, with Romney leading Santorum 44 percent to 30 percent. Among those who had already voted early or by absentee ballot, Romney led 51 percent to 36 percent.
Romney, who has struggled to put away Santorum, leads the former Pennsylvania senator in the race for the 1,144 delegates needed to win the Republican presidential nomination. He has 518 delegates to Santorum's 239, according to CNN.
A victory in Illinois, combined with his win in Puerto Rico and sweep of its 20 delegates on Saturday, would put Romney one step closer to becoming the Republican Party's candidate to face Democratic President Barack Obama in the November 6 election.
Romney gave a speech on economic issues in Chicago on Monday to promote what he feels is his strength, a working knowledge of the economy as a former businessman.
In it, he denounced what he called Obama's "assault on economic freedom" and touted his own resume.
"I am running for president because I have the experience and the vision to get us out of this mess," he said. "I am offering a real choice and a new beginning. And I have a conservative economic plan that will deliver more jobs, less debt and smaller government."
The race for the Republican nomination has become an increasingly hard fought as Romney and Santorum exchange insults. Romney's campaign called Santorum an "economic lightweight" while Santorum called attention to Romney's wealth.
"I heard Governor Romney here call me an economic lightweight because I wasn't a Wall Street financier like he was," Santorum told a crowd in Rockford, Illinois. "Do you really believe this country wants to elect a Wall Street financier as a president of United States? Do you think that is the kind of experience we need?"
The campaign returns to the South late this week as Louisiana holds its primary contest. Santorum may be poised for victory there after winning two other Southern states, Alabama and Mississippi, a week ago.
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He makes money from Limbaugh’s brand of bigotry and chauvinism because Limbaugh works for a company owned by Bain.
He presided over tax increases, low job creation, pro choice, gay marriage, RomneyCare and the $15 Billion earmark for The Big Dig as Governor of MA.
Got a $1.3 Billion earmark from the federal government for the 2002 winter olympics and claims he’s the one that “saved” them.
He used a private hotmail account for state business, like Sarah Palin and destroyed records on his way out, like Mike Leavitt when they were governors.
Decries TARP, but benefited from debt forgiveness of a failed bank, looted pensions and had the feds step in and shore up pension shortfalls.
Slams Gingrich for consulting Freddie and Fannie when his fellow money bundler for McCain, Wayne Berman is currently working as a money bundler for his campaign now.
Berman was a lobbyist for two oil companies in the drugs and sex for oil scandal at the Mineral Management Services office of the Interior Dept which ultimately led to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Berman was also a lobbyist for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which Mitt always slights Gingrich about.
God only knows what money interests Romney is beholden too because he won’t reveal who’s supporting his campaign financially.
Romney has paid direct mail company ‘Arena’ over $10M for glossy hate mail against his opponents. Arena is owned by Romney’s Campaign Finance Chairman, Frank Vandersloot, a MLM billionaire and a rabid gay hating Mormon.
http://www.salon.com/2012/02/17/billionaire_romney_donor_uses_threats_to_silence_critics/singleton/
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