Time Reports Romney to Quit Race (Updated: It's Official)
It's not confirmed by any other source yet, but I always like to make note of such reports because it is a test of the reliability of a reporter. In this case, the report comes from Mark Halperin at Time. Here's what's posted at Time right now:
Romney Campaign
Withdrawal could come at CPAC speech at 12:15 pm ET
HALPERIN’S TAKE: TEN THINGS MITT ROMNEY COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY
OK -- so that means Romney should be quitting the race . . . right about -- now.
Let's wait and see.
If the rumor is correct, there will be no shortage of bloggers at CPAC to let us know.
Update: It's official. Romney made the announcement as part of his address to CPAC. Time has the full text of Romney's speech here.
Here is the conclusion to Romney's speech:
Soon, the face of liberalism in America will have a new name. Whether it is Barack or Hillary, the result would be the same if they were to win the Presidency. The opponents of American culture would push the throttle, devising new justifications for judges to depart from the constitution. Economic neophytes would layer heavier and heavier burdens on employers and families, slowing our economy and opening the way for foreign competition to further erode our lead.
Even though we face an uphill fight, I know that many in this room are fully behind my campaign.” You are with me all the way to the convention. Fight on, just like Ronald Reagan did in 1976. But there is an important difference from 1976: today… we are a nation at war.
And Barack and Hillary have made their intentions clear regarding Iraq and the war on terror. They would retreat and declare defeat. And the consequence of that would be devastating. It would mean attacks on America, launched from safe havens that make Afghanistan under the Taliban look like child’s play. About this, I have no doubt.
I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, as you know. But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror. If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.
This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters… many of you right here in this room… have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming President. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country.
I will continue to stand for conservative principles; I will fight alongside you for all the things we believe in. And one of those things is that we cannot allow the next President of the United States to retreat in the face evil extremism!!
It is the common task of each generation—and the burden of liberty—to preserve this country, expand its freedoms and renew its spirit so that its noble past is prologue to its glorious future.
To this task… accepting this burden… we are all dedicated, and I firmly believe, by the providence of the Almighty, that we will succeed beyond our fondest hope. America must remain, as it has always been, the hope of the earth.
Thank you, and God bless America.
Let it be duly noted that Mark Halperin and Time were right. I presume they were given advance copies of the speech.
In the meantime: Republican Party, whither goest thou?
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