Grassley: Romney ?almost sure? to win GOP nomination

Sen. Chuck Grassley said today in an interview that Mitt Romney is ?almost sure? to win the Republican presidential nomination, based on his reading of the numbers.

He said even if two of Romney?s remaining three opponents were to drop out today, the survivor would have to win two-thirds of the delegates in the remaining states. He said he considers that ?impossible.?

However, Grassley still has not endorsed a candidate. He wasn?t prepared to talk about an endorsement today, a spokeswoman said. But Grassley did say he didn?t think it would be right for him to call for any candidate to drop out, considering he didn?t endorse anyone in the Iowa caucus campaign:

?I think it would be wrong for me to do that since I didn?t back anyone in the Iowa caucuses. Because, you know, the battles are in other states now and if I don?t have guts enough to take a stand among Iowa Republicans for a specific candidate and it looks to me like Romney?s in the lead, you know, how can I say to others they don?t have a right to run for president??

I?m not sure I follow his reasoning that withholding a caucus endorsement means he shouldn?t suggest an end to campaigns that he considers hopeless. Surely, there?s a difference between making a pick in a wide-open field and suggesting closure once you?ve judged it?s all but over. That line of thought may go further to explain why Grassley?s not in a big hurry to endorse anyone, although he hasn?t ruled it out.

The Republican senator said he doesn?t think a protracted nomination battle would hurt the eventual nominee, noting that he expects 90 percent of Republicans will support the party?s standard-bearer. ?I believe the battle?s where it always is, with the independents. I don?t think the independents will make up their mind until October,? he said.

He indicated that people may be reluctant to label Romney the presumptive nominee because of the experience of the campaign so far.? ?There have been so many surprises in the last twelve months, you know, so that?s why you?re reluctant to take those stands,? he said.

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Tags: 2012 president race, Barack obama, iowa politics, mitt romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kathie-obradovich/~3/IMwplUvg2tE/

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