Republicans back Romney candidacy

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Republican presidential candidate former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum turns to his wife Karen Tuesday in Gettysburg, Pa. after announcing he is suspending his candidacy effective today.

With his strongest competitor dropping out of the race to gain the Republican nomination for the U. S. presidency, local Republicans say they are pleased that Mitt Romney looks to be their candidate in the 2012 election.

"I think (Mitt) Romney is the better candidate, and I think he will do well and has a very good chance of defeating (President Barack) Obama, " Blaine County Republican Central Committee Chair Richard Cronk of Chinook said this morning.

With former U. S. Sen. Rick Santorum's announcement Tuesday that he is dropping out of the race — although former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and U. S. Sen. Ron Paul have vowed to stay in the race — it appears that Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, will be the GOP's candidate to contest Obama's bid for re-election.

Hill County Republican Central Committee Chair Andrew Brekke applauded Santorum's concession, although he expressed some reservations about Romney's policies. He does think the candidate can defeat Obama, however.

With problems still facing the nation including unemployment and a shaky economy, Obama faces some unique challenges, Brekke said.

"I think that whoever is the (Republican) nominee would have a pretty good chance at victory in November, " he said.

But, with his star power and ability to campaign, Obama is not a run-of-the-mill candidate or incumbent, Brekke added.

"The Republicans can't rest on their laurels and expect an automatic victory. … It's going to take hard work, and I have no doubt that Romney is willing to do that, " he said. "He is a very excellent campaigner and has proven to be so. "

Cronk said he believes Romney has a very good chance to defeat the incumbent, because of his values and what he stands for, adding that it will resonate well in Montana. Obama's policies — including the federal deficit expanding to record numbers and his energy policies, such as not approving the Keystone XL oil pipeline that would have run through Montana en route from Alberta to Texas — will hurt, Cronk said.

"Obama has kind of lost touch with reality, " he said. "He has so greatly expanded the nation's debt, which most Montanans are against, and he hasn't controlled gas prices. "

Cronk and Brekke echoed a comment from the leadership of the national party: Now is the time for Republicans to come together to campaign against Obama.

"I'm happy to see that (Santorum) dropped out so that the GOP can focus on defeating Obama this fall, " Cronk said.

Brekke said the Republicans now have the same opportunity Obama has had throughout the campaign — a clear shot at the general election.

"Overall, it's a good thing for the party to have a clear … nominee and let his campaign get off on the right foot, " he said.

Cronk said that he believes Romney would make a good president, particularly about issues Montanans care about.

"I think he would do real well …, " Cronk said. "I think he would be most likely to bring the budget under control. "

Brekke said he has reservations on some policies — such as Romney overseeing the implementation of a health care policy in Massachusetts that could be called a blueprint for Obama's health care reform, and flip-flopping on some social issues. But, he said, he supports Romney's candidacy.

"I have some questions, and we'll see where the policies take us down the road, but I'm happy to see he's the … presumptive nominee, " Brekke said.