Nevada’s caucuses provided the first election this cycle where the suspense was entirely focused on the second place winner.
Mitt Romney won by an enormous margin as expected, showing heavy support across all demographics. According to entrance polls, he won every income class except voters earning below $30,000. He won every religious category except “none.” He won among the very conservative and tea party supporters. His campaign crowed about vote totals that beat his 37-point win in 2008.
Nevada gave Romney, for the first time, his second straight victory. He now has undeniable momentum, and the very real potential to go undefeated in February.
That left second place, and the delegates that come with it, for Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich to fight over—two candidates sucking wind as the election grinds on. Gingrich dispelled speculation he might drop out, but his road ahead became unclear once again.
—Jim O’Sullivan
NATIONAL JOURNAL’S PRIMARY REPORT
Romney Wins Big in Nevada
Mitt Romney chalked up a huge win in the Nevada caucuses on Saturday, cementing his standing as the front-runner by adding a Western state to earlier victories in New Hampshire and Florida.
Newt to Mitt: Forget the Fantasy, I’m Staying In
Newt Gingrich has given himself a deadline to catch up with Mitt Romney in the delegate count for the Republican presidential nomination. But he's not going to fulfill what he calls Romney's "greatest fantasy" by getting out of the race anytime soon, as National Journal’s Jill Lawrence reports.
Nevada Caucus: Election Results Map
National Journal’s map of Nevada’s caucuses shows who won and where.
Only Nevada Mystery: Will it Go to Romney or Obama in the Fall?
The most interesting thing about Nevada is the mystery of who will get its six electoral votes in November: President Obama or the Republican nominee, all but certain to be Romney.
Can Gingrich Stop a Death Spiral?
Gingrich faces the prospect of a February freeze, with none of the seven states that vote this month tilting toward him. When candidates don’t win, voters conclude they can’t win—a pattern that almost always produces a death spiral. Just four candidates have defied this dynamic in the modern era, as National Journal’s Ron Brownstein reports. Can Gingrich learn from them?
It’s No Ordinary Recovery. So Why Should It Be An Ordinary Election?
The reaction to the latest jobless report on both sides of the aisle is probably premature at best, writes National Journal’s Michael Hirsh. Just as this is no ordinary economic recovery, it's wrong to assess the presidential election odds using the ordinary metrics.
Ron Paul’s Last Stand
Paul has staked his campaign on staging upsets in Nevada on Saturday and the caucus states that follow in the next week – Maine, Colorado and Minnesota. But if he fails, it could be the end of the road.
Romney’s Taxes: Big Team, Big Budget
One of the most interesting details on Romney’s 2010 tax return is the blank line for the cost of tax preparation. What could have been a deduction was instead left empty, masking the cost and manpower it took to prepare a 550-page return, as National Journal’s Nancy Cook reports.
Romney Assails Obama Stimulus Spending in Colorado
Romney slammed President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package on Saturday at a rally featuring a plant owner who said he received some of the money—and it didn’t create any jobs.
Local Official: Santorum Doesn’t Qualify for Indiana Ballot
Santorum has failed to qualify for the May 8 Indiana presidential primary ballot, an official said on Friday – a decision that Santorum’s campaign says it plans to challenge.
Gingrich Alleges Romney Unfair to Poor
Gingrich on Friday hit Romney for being unfair to the poor, while only minutes later contending that a Romney administration would support food stamps as much as President Obama.
Jobless Rate Throws Romney Advisor Off Message
It’s a bad day on the trail when your economic adviser ruminates about how a rebounding jobless market is helping President Obama politically.
PRESIDENTIAL RACE NEWS SUMMARY
Romney Draws Nevada Victory With Broad GOP Support
[New York Times, 2/04/12] Mitt Romney’s big Nevada win solidified his status as GOP frontrunner, particularly as the former Massachusetts governor won a higher percentage of voters who call themselves strong tea party supporters than Newt Gingrich.
Romney’s Nevada Win: What It Means
[Washington Post, 2/04/12] Romney’s significant margin of victory may say more about his opponents than his own candidacy. The lack of traction by the two men vying to be the top non-Romney candidate in the race may spell their doom.
Romney Gets Big Boost From Mormon Voters
[Politico, 2/04/12] Entrance polls show that Romney’s big victory in Nevada tonight was aided by the strong support of the Mormon population, which made up roughly a quarter of the electorate. But Alexander Burns writes that Romney’s victory was not just about Mormons – he won broad support.
Gingrich Vows to Fight to Convention
[Boston Globe, 2/04/12] Gingrich vows to keep fighting all the way up to the GOP convention in August, but when it comes to campaigning, the former House speaker fell woefully short in Nevada.
Las Vegas Votes: ‘It’s a Mess, Man’
[Wall Street Journal, 2/04/12] With many of their state’s voters and organizers confused by the caucus process, some Nevada Republicans think the state should go back to a presidential primary.
Nevada’s Triple Economic Whammy
[CNN, 2/04/12] The Silver State has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in unemployment, foreclosure filings and the percentage of homes worth less than the mortgages held on them.
Lessons From the Nevada Entrance Polls
[New York Times, 2/04/12] Entrance surveys at random precincts around the state offer insights into what Republicans cared about as they headed to their caucuses.
In Maine, It’s Romney v. Paul
[Politico, 2/04/12] With the spotlight on Nevada, most people have probably forgotten that Maine’s caucuses also begin today – and most Republicans say the race is a two-man battle between Romney and Paul.
Poll: Trump Endorsement a Negative For Romney
[Politico, 2/04/12] Nevada Facebook users see the media mogul’s endorsement as a net negative for Romney, according to a Facebook/Politico poll.
Nevada Caucuses: How Social Media is Telling the Story
[Las Vegas Sun, 2/04/12] From Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other social media, The Las Vegas Sun offers a look at what people are saying about the state’s caucus.
Sharron Angle Santorum Endorsement Packs Little Punch
[Las Vegas Sun, 2/04/12] Only 28 people showed up to watch Angle, a former Senate candidate and tea party standard bearer, endorse Rick Santorum, including Angle’s handlers and Santorum’s local staff. It’s hard to say who was more disappointed.
Santorum Heads to Sweater-Vest Factory
[The Daily Beast, 2/04/12] Having already skipped Nevada, Santorum headed to one place where he knew he would have support: a sweater-vest factory.
Ron Paul Doesn’t Care About the Super Bowl
[Buzzfeed, 2/04/12] Paul doesn’t really care about Super Bowl Sunday, but he always roots for the underdog.
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