As University students flocked to the beach during spring break, the Republican presidential race saw several alterations, including the suspension of Rick Santorum’s campaign and comments from Newt Gingrich on a Mitt Romney success.
Santorum’s campaign trail came to a halt April 6 when his 3-year-old daughter, who is diagnosed with a serious genetic disorder, was hospitalized for pneumonia. On April 10, Santorum announced he would suspend his presidential campaign.
“We are not done fighting,” Santorum said April 10 in Pennsylvania.
Many think Romney will ultimately gain the nomination following Santorum’s campaign suspension.
“I didn’t feel [Santorum] was going to win anyway,” said Dominic Clust, political communication junior. “Romney had it in the bag to begin with, but this cleared the way for his nomination.”
Romney’s significant lead in delegates may also foreshadow a nomination for him.
A Republican candidate must win 1,144 delegates to be named the Republican nominee, and Romney remains in the lead with 684 delegates.
While Santorum trailed behind Romney with 270 delegates, Gingrich received 136 delegates, and Ron Paul came in last with 52 delegates.
On April 8, Gingrich stated his campaign was “operating on a shoestring” and that Romney “is far and away the most likely” Republican nominee.
If Romney were to win the Republican nomination, Gingrich also said he would rally behind him.
But Clust said Gingrich should drop from the race immediately.
“I don’t think Gingrich stands a chance,” Clust said.
Although Paul trails the other candidates in last place, some students think he should remain in the race.
Pre-nursing sophomore Austin Culotta said he would like to see Paul continue to campaign.
“He should stay in and stick with his message,” he said. “I like what he’s saying.”
Other students, including Clust, said they would like to see Paul run as a third-party nominee.
“A lot of people think Obama has not done as good as he could have these last four years and are going to look forward to a third party to lead the way,” Clust said.
 
____
Contact Kate Mabry at [email protected]