Romney, Santorum camps at odds over delegate math
(CNN) – Advisers for Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum sparred Wednesday over the delegate landscape in the race for the GOP nomination, for which neither candidate managed to gain the upper hand after Tuesday's voting contests.
In a memo to reporters, Romney Political Director Rich Beeson laid out his camp's view that neither Santorum nor any of the other candidates in the race has any chance of securing enough delegates to secure the Republican nomination.
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"Super Tuesday dramatically reduced the likelihood that any of Governor Romney's opponents can obtain the Republican nomination," Beeson wrote. "As Governor Romney's opponents attempt to ignore the basic principles of math, the only person's odds of winning they are increasing are President Obama's."
Beeson cited Romney's current lead in delegates and a tough upcoming primary and caucus calendar as examples of the tough road ahead for Romney's rivals. CNN currently estimates Romney to have won 404 delegates, well ahead of Santorum at 165, Newt Gingrich with 106 and Ron Paul with 66. A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to seal up the GOP nomination.
"Neither opponent succeeded in closing his delegate deficit, and the calendar ahead offers them dwindling opportunities to close the gap," Beeson wrote. "Looking at the weeks ahead, the remaining 34 contests have turned into a steep uphill climb for Governor Romney's opponents."
But, speaking to CNN, Santorum campaign adviser John Brabender brushed off the Romney campaign's analysis as "voodoo math," saying the figures were meant to dissuade voters from casting ballots for rival candidates.
"What he is saying he wants to do is disenfranchise Republican primary voters," Brabender said, pointing out that many of the delegates currently awarded to Romney in estimates were non-binding.
"What Romney is trying to do is call the game before it's even halftime because he has a lead," Brabender said.
He asserted conservatives shouldn't let a "moderate" dictate the winner of the Republican primary.
CNN's Dana Bash contributed to this report.
Also see:
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Hey, fellas. "This is why we play the games." You can analyze and predict all you want on paper, but nothing is decided until you actually hold the primaries and count the votes.
Ok, sure. Every one should just quit now so Mr. Brylcreem can lock it up. That will never happen. The comedy goes on and on an. Too rich.
The game is not declared "game-over" until the final whistle is blown!
We want Romney! We want Romney! We want Romney!
Valentina- No We Don't! No We don't!No We Don't!
Nearly 22 states elections is over Romney got only 35% of delegates he can’t seal the deal
Hey, Rick, what do you call someone who consistently comes in at 2nd place and doesn't have enough delegates to win the Nomination? It sure isn't Mr. President.
"We want Romney! We want Romney! We want Romney!"
Fixed for accuracy:
Less than 40% of voters want Romney! Less than 40% of voters want Romney!
Yeah, he's a true "leader" (NOT!)
Let them duke it out. Democracy in action. At the end of the day we WILL have a candidate to run against Obama. I support romney, but could support whoever becomes our nominee.
I read where Romney's campaign said "it would take an Act of God for anyone not named Mitt Romney to
win the nomination". Sanctimonious might object to this observation.
As long as they keep bickering with each other the better we like it. They are like spoiled kids. Vote Obama the only adult in the race.
Democrats want Romney to. So we can mop the floor with him and get back the countries bussiness at hand.
Romney's stuff on Youtube, type when mitt romney came to town. You will never consider this Rich Tax Evader, another Bush that want to go to Iran War. Are you ready to sacrifice your kids?????????Ship jobs to China. KBToys bankrupted and he made millions and looted this nation, and shipped jobs to China....now you are talking. Educate yourself, no wonder Obama is right on Education. We need, yes, Obama2012.
Numbers=math=science
OH NO!!!!!!!
just say no to rummy.
Mittens camp has now said they can only lose, ". . . by an act of God."
Less than 20% of the voters want Santorum! Less than 15% of the voters want Gingrich! Less than 15% of the voters want Paul!
I think we have learned that the American election process is a big JOKE!
MONEY is the deciding factor.
There is no choice among these myopic fools.
I can understand why so many Republicans are not happy.
I could, maybe, support Ron Paul as president if he had a Democratic House and Senate to curb some of his desire to abandon those unable to help themselves.
Less than 50% of Georgia voters want Gingrich! More than 70% of Mass voters want Romney!
I have tried to like romney, but something about his sneaky beady eyes won't let me.
Independents elect Presidents...not conservative right or liberal left. How many polls do we need to understand that Mitt is the only candidate that will get the independent votes to win the swing states to claim victory for the GOP?
A vote for a right leaning conservative is a vote for Obama!!!
They both look like a couple of dbags in that pic.
"How many polls do we need to understand that Mitt is the only candidate that will get the independent votes to win the swing states to claim victory for the GOP? "
Nah, he's pretty much kissed the independents goodbye with his lame wimpy and moronic campaign. Recent polling confirms this.
Its really sad state of affairs for the entire republican field..... if i was a republican and had a brain...i would ask my party what have they actually done for me..... you have all these ppl who vote republican because their dad voted republican, their granddad voted republican, great grandad and so on... but why... they want to cut everything which will only hurt.... who? you!