(CNN) – While he may have lost two big primaries in the South, Mitt Romney's campaign touted his Tuesday win in Hawaii's caucuses.
"From one end of America to the other, the voters have spoken," the candidate said in a statement released by his campaign Wednesday. "And what they have said is that they want to send a conservative businessman to the White House."
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Hawaii, with 17 delegates at stake, proved to be an appetizing target in the delegate-hungry GOP field this cycle. Three of the candidates-Romney, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul-sent surrogates to the Aloha State ahead of its contest this week, a sign that as the GOP scrambles to find its nominee, no island is too far.
Paul's campaign also went up with a paid television ad in the state, touting his economic recovery plans.
According to CNN's latest estimate, Romney picked up nine delegates in Hawaii. The former Massachusetts governor also gained nine delegates after winning Tuesday's contest in American Samoa, and he took in 21 delegates combined from Mississippi and Alabama, bringing his total number to 498.
The wins came three days after he pulled delegates from victories in the U.S. territories of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands.
Meanwhile, following his success in the two southern states, Santorum now has 239 delegates. Newt Gingrich saw mild gains on Tuesday and now has 139, while Paul has 69 delegates.
Hawaii held an open contest, meaning any registered voter could participate in the caucuses.
Also see:
When Romney says 'get rid of' Planned Parenthood he means…
From CNN Politics
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Let him have his 15 minutes in 5 years people will be say "who was Romney?"
my1cent - I vote republican. But if Romney is the nominee, I will vote for President Obama. Romney has no idea about average person who lives on a paycheck.. Worst is that he doesnt even try to understand the average guy who drives a Ford Taurus or a Toyota Corolla.
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Sounds pretty dumb. And just what do you base this on? Do you know Romney personally?
I guess to you it is better to get some warm and fuzzy about somebody you don't know, than to have a job, or a prosperous family because the economy is humming at a high pace? You might want to introduce some logic into your emotion based decision.
mitt likes poi and hula skirts and the trees are just the right hight. Wow there are really people in Hawaii who woud vote for him. Amazing. What a complete phoney. Obama 2012
It is unfortunate that Mississippi and Alabama, two states where over 75% of the republican electorate believes in creationism, is playing a role in this primary. It is also sad that candidates have to pander to it.
In a primary with actually viable and electable candidates, someone like Romney would have bit the dust long ago. He's only "inevitable" because the rest of the field of nominees has been so glaringly pathetic.
Someone of his caliber would have never survived in primaries like we saw with the democrats leading to the 2008 election. There were two strong candidates with strong bases of support. Romney can't lay claim to having either.
Tennessee, Oklahoma, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina Romney lost in the primary yes he will win in general election BUT turn out will very low that will hurt congress GOP may lose the majority
After super Tuesday many expected Romney will get more endorsement it didn’t happen WHY voters from south spoke loud that Romney is not our guy
Aloha, kahunas! I just had some pineaplle and cheesey poi and I'm happy to be here.
nolimits3333 You are absolutely wright.They think they can shove Willard the marionette down our throats.
America is not just the South, it is not just the conservatives, and it is not just the evangelicals. We are electing a President for America, not for just one of those groups.
" Competence will be returning to the Whte House": is a C average what the GOP wants? Last time I check, competence is not something that wins over the undecided voters. What ever happened to getting the best and the brightest to run- oh, that's right, college is for snobs, and Palin is a brain trust.
@ Larry...Jesus healed the sick FOR FREE not for waaaay over a trillion dollars. Reform health care, don't finance our children's future for it.
Can we finally get rid of Gingrich now....PLEASE??? After that, Santorum. He is a backward idiot who has everything to do with social agendas of his own, but nothing for the nation.
Jeez, this man is a dork!
Please, vic in nashville, use facts and not emotional ranting. The fact is when Romney loses as in Alabama and Mississippi he comes very close. Those states were not a landslide by any means. However in places like Idaho, Massachussettes, Hawaii, etc...he wins by very large margins. The democrats are voting with Santorum so his win isn't even as big as it looks.
100,000 a year horse riding therapy. Buy a horse for 5,000. I do not need them handling the american budget. Obama 2012
@ Marie d, did Robmey really sing Sweet Home Alabama??? I was joking with a few friends a few days ago and I said he would. Thanks for the laugh. Robmey is nothing more than a high priced call boy for the Rethuglican party.
According to the AP delegate count for March 13:
Romney 43
Santorum 36
Gingrich 24
Additionally, according to the AP, Romney won more delegates in Mississippi than Santorum, despite losing the popular vote there!
Jilli
I...Someone of his caliber would have never survived in primaries like we saw with the democrats leading to the 2008 election. There were two strong candidates with strong bases of support. Romney can't lay claim to having either.
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You mean Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama? They are not even in the same league of qualifications and caliber of candidate as Mitt Romney. I mean, Hillary probably managed a budget as First Lady, but Obama...well his record speaks for itself. His signature political accomplishment ( with blind support by his own private Democratic congress ), ObamaCare turns out to cost $1.8 trillion over the first 10 years instead of the $900 billion he sold at closing day. Guaranteed, ObamaCare will be repealed and the 2013 Romney Administration and replaced with a better system that makes sense for America, not just the Democratic Party and it's most generous supporters.
Romney's people are living in time warp from the 80's. Being called a "conservative businessman" is no longer a compliment but a huge insult. Mitt is the poster boy for unprincipled, horrible corporate criminals who have nearly destroyed our country. President Obama will have a field day with this clown. Should be fun.