Primary results 2012: Mitt Romney ‘s 5-state sweep

There was little suspense in tonight’s elections. Only in Delaware, where Newt Gingrich camped out in recent days and collected endorsements from top local officials, was Romney at any risk of losing. Even a Gingrich victory there would have been unlikely to complicate Romney’s glide to the Republican convention in Tampa. (Also on POLITICO: GOP delegate tracker) But with nearly all of the vote reported, Romney was crushing Gingrich in Delaware by a 30-percentage-point margin. Speaking to supporters in Manchester, N.H., Romney declared a formal end to the primary season and predicted: “Together, we are going to win on Nov. 6.” “After 43 primaries and caucuses, many long days and more than a few long nights, I can say with confidence and gratitude that you have given me a great honor and solemn responsibility,” he said, framing the general election as a test of the country’s economic resilience. Said Romney: “The last few years have been the best that Barack Obama can do. But it’s not the best America can do.” Romney has not yet secured enough delegates to clinch the GOP nomination officially, but he has already been treated by his party as its presumptive nominee for two weeks, since Rick Santorum ended his White House bid earlier this month. Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75561.html#ixzz1t1Qw0aow