The results of the Florida primary are casting doubt on the theory that should conservatives coalesce behind either Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich they could defeat Mitt Romney.
The former Massachusetts governor took a larger share of the vote than the combined total of Santorum and Gingrich, The Washington Post’s political blog
The Fix noted.
Exit polls also showed Romney winning born-again Christians and tea party supporters and those who describe themselves as “somewhat conservative.”
While Romney lost those described as “very conservative” by some 10 points to Gingrich, he did grab about a third of those voters.
Romney also was viewed as the most likely GOP candidate to defeat President Barack Obama.
“Romney isn’t totally out of the woods yet when it comes to the base, and things in this presidential race can turn on a dime, but if Romney can continue to win moderate and moderately conservative Republicans by large margins and do decently among the most conservative voters, he’s going to be just fine,” The Fix noted.
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