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Overpowered by McCain, Romney vows to fight

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

February 6, 2008

BOSTON - Gov. Mitt Romney pledged to fight all the way to the Republican nominating convention this summer if necessary, despite being overpowered by John McCain in Super Tuesday contests.

"I think there's some people who thought it was all going to be done tonight, but it's not all done tonight. We're going to keep on battling," Romney told supporters. "We're going to go all the way to the convention. We're going to win this thing and we're going to go to the White House."

The former Massachusetts governor had little trouble defending his home turf. He also took Utah, where fellow Mormons supported his candidacy, and Minnesota.

But he trailed McCain in other contests, even though he ran one of the best-financed of all Republican bids for the GOP nomination.

Although Romney presented himself as a bedrock conservative, he lost in several Southern state contests to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, won in his own home state as well as in Georgia, West Virginia and Alabama.

"My wife, Ann, said, 'The one thing that's clear tonight is that nothing's clear,'" Romney told supporters. But, he added, "One thing that's clear is: This campaign's going on."

Romney, who was criticized at home for treating Massachusetts as a steppingstone to higher office while governor, won his home state by finding favor with voters who support him on immigration issues and the economy, according to exit polls conducted for The Associated Press.

Romney said there was "a special feeling in my heart" when he realized three states he's lived in "all voted for us."

Republican results

Total delegates at stake 2,380

Total needed to nominate 1,191

Previous Won Other/super

totals yesterday delegates Total

John McCain 96 270 17 383

Mitt Romney 93 43 9 135

Mike Huckabee 26 25 3 54

Ron Paul 6 0 0 6

McCAIN

N.Y.

R.I.