Super Tuesday: Romney wins Massachusetts primary

Mitt Romney coasted to victory in his home state of Massachusetts, easily winning the primary Tuesday over three opponents who did not bother to campaign there.

Massachusetts awards its 38 delegates proportionally to candidates who receive 15% or more of the vote, and it appeared Romney was in position to get almost all of them.

Romney served as governor of Massachusetts for one term, from 2003-07, and has long been considered a moderate on the political spectrum, though he has emphasized more conservative positions during the Republican primary.

As Massachusetts governor, Romney eliminated a projected $3-billion budget shortfall through a combination of spending cuts and increased fees.

He also supported and signed into law the state’s landmark healthcare legislation, which provides near universal care for state residents but has been criticized for mandating that citizens buy health insurance.

His opponents have argued that his support of the Massachusetts healthcare program will make it difficult for Romney to attack President Obama on the federal healthcare package the president signed in March 2010.

Because of Romney’s strong ties to the state, his GOP opponents essentially conceded Massachusetts to him, making no appearances in the run-up to Super Tuesday and using campaign funds to buy advertising in more contested states.

Polls had showed Romney poised to collect 60% of the state vote, and if Massachusetts was not bubbling with enthusiasm about Romney in the days leading up to the primary, that’s more reflective of the belief that there was no need – he has long had the state locked up. Every state Republican lawmaker endorsed him, as did top party officials.

If Romney captures the GOP nomination, he may not be able to count on Massachusetts in the general election. A recent poll by the West New England University Polling Institute showed Obama with a large lead – 60% to 36% – over Romney in a state that has not gone for a Republican nominee since Ronald Reagan ran for reelection in 1984.

david.meeks@latimes.com