From Deseret News archives:
Hatch, Bennett support Mitt's 'classy' withdrawal
Romney briefed Utah's GOP membership shortly after announcing his decision to suspend campaigning in a speech before the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.
"I wasn't expecting it, but I guess I wasn't surprised," said Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who added the CPAC conference was "as good a venue as all" for him to pick to leave the race.
"You may be doing the right thing in terms of a Republican victory in the fall, but we need you, we need your voice, we need the things you stand for to continue to be supported," Bennett told Romney.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who himself ran unsuccessfully for the party's presidential nomination in 2000, called Romney's withdrawal "classy" and said it was handled in the best interest of our nation.
"It's the kind of thing you would expect a really really outstanding person to do," said Hatch. He said Romney could have stayed in and probably won more delegates but might have forced the decision to go to the Republican National Convention.
Bennett said the last minute surge for Huckabee in Iowa robbed Romney of a victory everyone expected him to have.
"If he had won Iowa and he had won Florida, he would be the nominee," Bennett said. "He would be in the position that McCain is in."
Bennett said Romney was leading in Florida right up to the weekend, when popular Gov. Charlie Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez endorsed McCain and that was just enough to cause Romney to lose Florida.
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A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
He is NOT a good example. He broke the Sabbath for a simple game and money....
Yes - the Catholic Church can take any stand they want for the Catholic...
Let it be heard and RISE AND SHOUT, the UTES are out. We claim ownership of...
IN 50 years of membership I have yet to hear a person of whatever position in...
It is non-sense to say one has to have religion to do good or to be good....
Please don't spend any taxpayer money on this.
be a Dietmer because he can never win big games. He will never be a Steve...
I find it interesting that so many who are so vocal about a perceived threat...
Fireboylen, you make want to drug test you with that comment, are you out of...
Oh really. "How many places other than DN..." is a stupid thing to say....


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