Romney Still Slow off the Blocks

While all eyes were on Wisconsin this week, Mitt Romney turned in more sluggish performances in presidential primaries held on Tuesday. Despite effectively sealing the nomination nearly two months ago, Romney failed to crack the 70 percent mark in two more states: South Dakota (66.0 percent) and Montana (68.4 percent). Through 49 contests, the former Massachusetts governor has eclipsed the 70 percent barrier just six times – in his home state, Nebraska, Oregon, California, New Jersey, and New Mexico. Romney will clean up in the nation’s last primary state of Utah, which means he will tie Bob Dole for the lowest number of primary states carried with 70+ percent of the vote at seven. Romney has eclipsed the 80 percent mark in only one state, New Jersey (81.3 percent) with Utah yet to come. Contested Republican nominees since 1980 have averaged seven states with 80+ percent of the vote per cycle.