Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry said this morning that state presidential primary winner Mitt Romney voiced in his speech Tuesday night what voters needed to hear.
“He focused on what the party has been talking about – the free enterprise system, entrepreneurialism and opportunity in contrast with the Obama administration and that is the argument that wins the day in a general election,” Curry said.
“Mitt Romney leaves Florida with a full head of steam,” he said.
Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, won the statewide primary with more than 46 percent of the vote to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s 32 percent. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum came in with 13 percent and Texas Rep. Ron Paul took 7 percent.
Curry said the party is neutral in the Republican primary races because it wants to focus on the goal of winning in the November general election.
“We have to be able to coalesce Florida Republicans around our nominee. Whichever of these guys can take the message and make the argument for American free enterprise will ultimately close the deal,” Curry said.
“President Obama, who is a nice man, believes that big government at some level controlling consumption and production is the way to go. We just disagree with that,” he said.
Lenny said at 6:30 a.m. today that he gave more than 20 media interviews Tuesday, starting at 7:30 a.m.
“I think it was a great day for Florida. Everybody was watching Florida,” he said. “It was a chamber-of-commerce day.”
While Romney won with a wide margin statewide, the vote was closer in Duval County. Romney took 40 percent to Gingrich’s 39 percent. Romney also prevailed in St. Johns County.
Gingrich won in Baker, Clay, Nassau and Putnam counties.
“There was a lot of chatter about the establishment forcing Governor Romney down voters’ throats. What we saw yesterday was this is a republic. Individuals went to the polls yesterday and cast their vote. They made their decision,” said Curry.
He wasn’t ready to predict who will win the nomination.
“We still have a long way to go now,” he said. “Anything can happen.”
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