LIVE TV
India
Returns from 14 of the 17 counties showed Romney, former Massachusetts` Governor, getting 42 per cent support. Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, secured 25 per cent and Texas Congressman Ron Paul got 20 per cent while Rick Santorum, former Pennsylvania Senator, received 13 per cent.
Encouraged by his Nevada victory, 64-year-old Romney intensified his verbal tirade against Obama. "This President`s misguided policies made these tough times last longer," he said in his victory speech after his second consecutive victory after he won the Florida primary.
"We won`t settle for a President who tells us it could be worse. What defines us as Americans is our unwavering conviction that things must be better. That conviction guides our campaign. It has rallied millions of Americans to our cause, including tens of thousands of Nevadans who gave me their support today," Romney said.
He said his campaign is about more than replacing a President. It is about saving the soul of America, he said, adding President Obama wants to "fundamentally transform" America.
"We want to restore America to the founding principles that made this country great. Our vision for the future could not be more different than his," he argued.
Obama "will grow government and amass more trillion-dollar deficits. I will not just slow the growth of government, I will cut it. I will not just freeze government`s share of total economy, I will reduce it. And, without raising taxes, I will finally balance the budget," Romney said.
Obama`s "brand of capitalism sends your money to his friends` companies. My vision for free enterprise is to return entrepreneurship to the genius of consumer markets and to the creativity of the American people," he said.
He alleged that Obama demonises and denigrates almost every sector of US economy.
"I will make America the most attractive place in the world for entrepreneurs, for innovators, and for job creators. And unlike the other people running for President, I know how to do that. If elected President, my priority will be worrying about your job, not saving my own," Romney said.
"On one of the most personal matters of our lives, our health care, President Obama would turn decision making over to government bureaucrats. He forced through Obamacare; I will repeal it," the Republican leader promised.
Romney said if elected, he will build an America where "hope" is a new job with a paycheck, not a faded word on an old bumper sticker. "I will not attempt to bribe the voters with promises of new programs, new subsidies and ever-increasing checks from government.
"If this election is a bidding war for who can promise the most benefits, then I`m not your President. You have that President today. But if you want to make this election about restoring American greatness, then I hope you will join us."
"We still believe in the America that is a land of opportunity and a beacon of freedom. We believe in the America that challenges each of us to be better and bigger than ourselves. This election, let`s fight for the America we love. We believe in America," Romney said.
All of Romney`s three opponents, despite their defeat, vowed to continue their political battle against him.
