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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



Romney makes it official; he's out

Posted: Thursday, February 07, 2008 1:07 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: ,

From NBC/NJ's Erin McPike
WASHINGTON -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney used this year's CPAC confab here as the venue to bring his presidential bid to a close.

"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 Sen. Clinton or Obama would win," Romney said in his remarks.

As the results were rolling in on Super Tuesday, the Weekly Standard's Fred Barnes correctly predicted on FOX that Romney would likely exit the presidential race during his CPAC appearance.

Several scenarios abounded regarding the road ahead should Romney have stayed in the race (including a situation the campaign explained to the New York Times that had the campaign hoping they could nab many of the delegates up for grabs in the event of a Huckabee concession), but too many prognosticators deemed the odds mathematically impossible.

Romney employed many of the same lines in his speech that he's used on the stump throughout his campaign. And he confirmed one obvious thing that he admitted in his book, Turnaround, following his failed 1994 Senate campaign: He hates to lose.

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Comments

A good man
An honest man

He will do well in 2012 if he wants to try again....
His campaign has been finished since NH.
Maybe, he will now take his good money and place it on a winner. Hillary Clinton. hillaryclinton.com.
Noble
Yes !
Okay, America, it's time to get behind Huckabee. There is no way we can allow McCain to be the Republican nominee. He is arrogant and too old to lead our country for the next 8 years.
Even though I'm a Democrat, I'm sort of sad to hear this news. Romney has seemed like one of the only Republican candidates in a long time who could win red votes but govern both red and blue, understanding that a Governor or a President is elected to serve the needs of all their constituents, not just the ones that voted.
Good luck to the governor!!! We will see you in 2012.
Conservatives bet on the wrong horse.  It's too bad that they painted themselves into a corner with their rhetoric, for both McCain and Huckabee are more reliably conservative than they are given credit for.
Romney's departure signals the success of Democrats, who will surely win in any matchup with McCain.

I cannot in good conscience vote for McCain.
Rush better stock up on Oxycontin---it's gonna be a LOOOONG next few years for him! I'm going to tune into Fox News tonight, just to see Sean Hannity's head explode! Old soldiers never die, they just get stripped of their conservative creds...and then lose a presidential election!!
Best political speech in a decade!
Its about time. Did conservatives forget when Mitt Romney was running to the left of Ted Kennedy, voting for Paul Tsongas and running away from Ronald Reagan. Oh, I forgot, Romney is now the second coming of Reagan.
Since she has won the least delegates, I HOPE HILLARY WILL ALSO DO THE RIGHT THING AND DROP OUT, SO THAT SHE AND OBAMA CAN WORK ON THE THAT DREAM TICKET.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22419475

Hillary's best chances to pull away were California, NY, NJ and MA. If after all those contests, she's still behind in delegates, there's no way she's going to win this nomination fair and square.

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT SUPERDELEGATES DECIDING THE OUTCOME. If they try that, they can just say goodbye to the presidency forever - GUARANTEED !!!! Whoever is the nominee MUST be the fair and square winner.
Yipeeeee!
McCain will LOSE to Obama

McCain will BEAT Clinton

Just that simple...
McCain-Romney might be the strongest Republican ticket

They will lose to Obama-Edwards

Obama HAS TO TALK POCKET BOOK ISSUES !!

Times running out !!

Obama/Edwards '08
The darkness is lifting
Romney's withdrawal shows the dwindling influence of CPAC, conservative talk radio, and "focus on themselves" preachers like Rev. James Dobson. Will they put up their own candidate, or just get in lock step behind McCain?  Stay tuned . . .
Mmmmm is is dealing for VP.  He hates to lose and the Huck confounded him.  McCain needs a young strong Vp, Mitt is to power hungry,  Huck is to Hulkelberry and Mcpresident is to old to go the distance.  His naps will get longer and longer.
Little Mitty Tow Shoes     ;-D
It's unfortunate that the most intelligent candidate on either side has chosen to drop out.  
Toldja, Mitt, toldja... time to go. Buh-bye.

Romney's departure from the race now leaves us with one political hack left in the mix - Clinton. But, we are now assured of an election cycle devoid of the usual conservative mantras. There will be no divisive debates over flag burning, gay marriage, and the like. The debate over immigration will now remain civil. A good day for America....and Mac, now there is no reason for you to prostrate tourself in front of the CPAC gang. Good riddance, Mitt.
ROMNEY WHO ?
Well well well....who will the media kick around now??? They were having such fun using Mitt for a pinata...what will they do? I just cant imagine that they will turn, like a viper, on their 'darling' John McCain....can you??????
At least he knows how to bow out gracefully (others with worse odds can't say that).  He's a classy guy.  Hopefully he will run again!  This isn't a defeat- it's the only way the GOP can even attempt to unite, which Romney states is his purpose.  As for me, I'll be voting for a democrat.
Mitts out, Im out, let Hillary have it.
I think I'll start looking for property in Mazatlan.
"He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day"

Look out for Romney 2012
Whoa---what will all the rich republicans that endorsed Romney in MI do now?They have dissed Mccain and now are left with him-----too funny.Should be quite a sight to watch them suck up to John now.Will try to let you know how the mad scrmble goes if we are allowed to know.
Romney made the right choice here; what was better for the party. I'm waited with bated breathe for the post-Edwards-drop-out-like speaches from Huckabee and McCain. They'll talk about how good a guy Mitt is and try to woo his supports. I don't see it happening. They'll be lying through their teeth if they do.

Sorry to see you go Mitt.
Go Obama
Bigotry and Back Door deals have combined to take Mr. Romney out of the race.

Americans are so stupid that they do not deserve to have a leader like Mitt Romney.

When the economy falls at the hands of Can't Run my Own Campaign McCain or tax and spend Clinton, just remember that the bigotry of the south and McCain's partnership with Huckabee brought our only hope down.

Expect to see Huckabee drop out and take on McCain's VP role soon.
clintons unsavory connections will come into play now, her and bill's experience in arm twisting and corrupt political shenanigans is unmatched, they will do what ever it takes regardless of legality or what's right to further their dynasty, their lust for wealth and power always trumps fair play, couple this with the fact that the republicans are salivating for a hillary nomination, because they know they can beat her in the general, and you have a situation that is sure to become very ugly and dishonest, with the american citizens wishes tossed to the curb
oh so its sen. clinton but then just obama? what a slimy douchebag, glad he is gone, even though if he had won we woulda trounced him in the general. at least mccain is a good guy and it will be a great general election against obama.
"Gov. Mitt Romney used this year's CPAC confab ..."
--John McCain benefits the most from this announcement.  Because it will almost certainly divert the media from analyzing his speech in as great of detail.
I never was a big Romney supporter, but I appreciate that he's willing to help avoid a long drawn out fight and help us get to know our front runner and his chances. This way, we can show a little unity and start working on building more definitive platforms for November.

As for the democratic voters, I hope Romney's concession opens some eyes - does Clinton and Obama going at each other tooth and nail remind you at all of the standstills our President has had with our Congress? And the lack of progress that has yielded? Yeah, looks like leadership material to me :-/
What a good start for next race. Have to give him this he has class. Now if Obama would want to follow suit we could say that about him. Seriously I think it great someone cares about there party and country that much.Good luck to you sir.
Sad day for America my friends. Mitt Romney is the most talented person to run for President since Reagan. I guarantee you he'll be back in 2012 after the Democrats screw up the economy and turn this country into a welfare state.

Pres Bush is un popular because he got away from being a fiscal conservative and and starting an unpopular war. This is 1976 all over again. Pay attention to Romney, he'll be back in 2012.

Thank You
MITT ROMNEY we love you and your classy family !

Scott Taylor
Chandler, AZ

Now that Romney's campaign is over he should back Huckabee, as appose to McCain. I believe his followers can understand Huckabee better.... Just a thought.
Pay attention Hillary supporters, that's going to be your gal up there in a few weeks bowing out of the race.
It is sad to see the most intelligent man running drop out of the race.  Now he has to go back to his wonderful family, use his brilliant mind to grow his fortunes, and donate his time and services to some other cause.
ISLAM-just as 1 dude INCREDULOUS-as MORMONISM.

why is ISLAM so 'great'??
some BLACKS are wondering what 'change' and 'hope' BARAK is referring to.
most people are wondering what jj is referring to
It seems that Mcain and Huckabee had orchestrated a great strategy to get Romney out of the campaign. It's obvious to the public that is what they had wanted, but they must remember people will look at other candidates before they even consider THEM in the White House.
Republicans were just stupid on this one. Romney was the person who best represented their views, yet they rejected him because of his religion. The Republican Party deserves to lose this election....and they will, in a big way.
well Mitt you can thank the press and how it can control the outcome of elections by creating inunendoes that have nothing to do with running..I think you had every right to use your money, unfortunately some canadates had a war chest to start with....again i blame the press and there polls, well as an independent i will have a sign on my lawn for either Obama or hillary and i cant stand hillary that how much i dont care for McCain......Between now and then i hope i can get the independents to unite soon and hold our own convention on whose the better canadate and we need a third party...Well the media probably will  say just another gruntle person with an ax to grind, no just some one whos has more common sense than what the big spenders are getting ous....Both parties doesnt make a difference. Partys come first and some where along there line which is the bottom we might fit in....Change    Get up and do something unite with independents and let clean up washington...moaning on the couch dont help, being brainwashed by the media doesn help, Just evaluate whats happening to American...Yes you can Change I like the slogan.....Yes we can
Thank you Govenor Romney.  I was not a supporter but I admire anyone who tries to better America through their vision.

Now for the political part of this message.  Romeny supporters we would love to have you visit Barrack Obama's website and look at his voting record, and see his stand on many issues.  Not every candidate will meet every voters needs but after exploring the issues you might find that Obama's integrity and ability to work both sides of the aisle make him a good choice.
No matter how much money Romney put in, it seemed that he was too well groomed.  He looked a little like Reed Richards with the gray hair at the temples.  I hope that this is a lesson for other rich people: just because you have money doesn't mean you can win the election.  It might help, but it doesn't make it a win for sure.
I'm sorry for those that supported Romney.  I know you looked to him as a solution, but I think he made a mistake when he stepped away from his strengths.  



Now we need to focus on the remaining options.  We do not need a President who is content with being at war for the next 100 years.  



Huckabee is the only reasonable solution to both our domestic and international issues.  He's proven that he's able to unite people.  Look at how well he's doing with the least funding of all the candidates.  



We need a change from the status-quo politics and someone who will unit the NATION not just their party. Huckabee has done that for his state, in this campaign and can do it for OUR Nation.

L. M. T, Milwaukee, WI -  why would he support Huckabee?  Huckabee has been bigotted and rude to Romney (not to mention that his goal has merely been to thwart Romney since NH) since the beginning.  People don't like having their character and beliefs attacked.  Romney only ever "attacked" Huck's policies.  Don't get your hopes up.

Go Obama- the only candidate with integrity still in the race.


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