The day after his big primary win, Mitt Romney had to clarify a remark that, to some, made him sound cold hearted toward the poor.
Still, the GOP frontrunner is on a roll after his Florida victory.
Romney now has what his rivals want: Money and now momentum.
Florida was Romney’s breakthrough.
Voters gave him a 14 point win and proof, Romney claimed on the Today Show, that the Republican right is finally on the Romney train.
“People who called themselves conservative and very conservative overwhelmingly supported my campaign. Tea Partiers supported my campaign,” he said.
That wasn’t necessarily true according to exit polling.
Newt Gingrich beat Romney with very conservative voters and evangelicals.
“It is now clear that this will be a two-person race between the conservative leader, Newt Gingrich, and the Massachusetts moderate,” Gingrich said.
There’s still Ron Paul and Rick Santorum as well.
“The race is just beginning. Only four states have spoken,” Santorum said.
Over the next week in Nevada, Maine, Colorado and Minnesota Santorum and Paul could do better.
They’re caucuses, where fewer but more enthusiastic backers can tip the balance.
Meanwhile, Romney raised eyebrows saying he is “not concerned about the very poor”.
He scrambled to clarify, saying the poor have a safety net and that the rich are doing fine.
He’s says he’s concerned about the middle class, 90-95% of Americans, who are struggling.
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