Two Big Elections Saturday
Presidential candidates look to Nevada and South Carolina
Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor MittRomney holds his grandson Parker during a campaign stop at the Sun City retirement community in Bluffton, South Carolina, January 16, 2008. (Photo: ©Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
Fresh off a big win in his home state of Michigan, Mitt Romney turned his attention to South Carolina and Nevada this week.
Citizens who are Republicans will vote in a primary in South Carolina this Saturday. Both Democrats and Republicans in Nevada will caucus to make their choices for the presidential nomination on Saturday, as well. (The Democratic primary election in South Carolina is on January 26.) While most of the Republican candidates are concentrating on South Carolina, Romney, the former Governor of Massachusetts, has split his time between the two states.
On Wednesday, a day after his victory in Michigan's primary election, Romney addressed an overflow crowd at the Russell House Student Union at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
On a large banner to one side of the stage, Romney had posted a To-Do list that included ending illegal immigration, reducing taxes, and providing better health care for veterans. Behind the stage an even bigger blue and white banner almost shouted: Washington Is Broken!
Romney began his speech by pointing out that sign.
"That's what I've heard from people," he said. "Washington is broken. It's not the Democrats, it's not the Republicans. It's the whole institution."
Only someone from outside the Washington, D.C. power structure can make necessary changes, said the former Governor from Massachusetts. He pointed out his background as a businessman and as head of the 2002 Winter Olympic games.
"Politics is not my career," he said. "It's my duty."
Throughout his speech, Romney focused on three key issues: strong family, strong military, and strong economy.
To emphasize the importance of strong families, Romney turned to his own. On stage with him was the youngest of his five sons, Craig, with Craig's wife and toddler son.
Romney and two of the other five Republicans in the race have each won the vote in one state. Arizona Senator McCain won New Hampshire, while Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee won Iowa.
The Republican winner in South Carolina is expected to be in a strong position going into the Florida primary on January 29. There the winner will have to battle former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has spent almost every day over the past month in the Sunshine State. Giuliani has pinned his presidential hopes on making a strong showing in Florida before 22 states vote on Super Tuesday on February 5.
Polls indicate a close race between John McCain and Mike Huckabee, who appeals to the South Carolina's many evangelical Christians. Battling for the evangelical vote is former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson. Romney has told supporters that he hopes to make a strong showing in the state but has said that he does not expect to win.
Romney's chances are better in Nevada, where he campaigned on Friday. Meanwhile, McCain, Huckabee, and Thompson crisscrossed South Carolina the day before the Saturday election.
No one should count out wildcard candidate Ron Paul. His message seems to be catching on among young Republicans and Independents. He has raised a lot of money recently by focusing his efforts on getting small donations through the Internet. He, too, is focusing on evangelical Christians in South Carolina. He presided over a packed campaign event at Bob Jones University on Thursday. Bob Jones University is a Christian college and seminary in Greenville.
Check back to get all the latest results from both the South Carolina Republican primary and the Nevada caucuses.
ELECTION 2008
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John Dixon is a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.
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