America is two primary elections into the 2012 United States Presidential primary season, and one candidate seems to be showing a strong lead: Mitt Romney.
Romney received the second highest number of votes in the Iowa caucus, and the highest in the New Hampshire primary.
He also received the highest percentage on a Jan. 13-Jan. 17 CNN/Time poll, which surveyed 505 likely South Carolina voters, at 33 percent compared to Newt Gingrich, who received 23 percent, and Rick Santorum, who received 16 percent.
The next primary is scheduled to take place in South Carolina on Jan. 21. Florida’s primary will follow 10 days later.
But even though Romney seems to be sweeping the primaries so far, anything could happen.
A candidate must have 1,144 delegates vote for them at the Republican National Convention to gain the Republican nomination. So far, Romney only has a secured, or “bound,” seven, though 20 are expected to vote in his favor. Ron Paul has three, and Jon Huntsman has two.
Huntsman, though, recently pulled out of the race, joining five other previous GOP-nomination hopefuls. One of those, Michele Bachmann, withdrew her candidacy after receiving only five percent of the Iowa caucus votes. She won the Iowa straw poll just a few months before, in which historically, she was the first woman to participate. Rick Perry announced today that he is abandoning his presidential bid and offering his support to Newt Gingrich.
Herman Cain, an early Republican favorite, suspended his campaign in December after multiple sexual harassment allegations surfaced. He denied all accusations.
Cain was interviewed in a recent Washington Post blog, saying he will be making an “unconventional endorsement” on Thurs., Jan. 19 before the South Carolina primary.
It is not clear at press time exactly what he will say, but some people wonder if he is going to jump back in the race. He definitely has not disappeared and is still acting as if on the trail, said his director of media relations, Kathy Hoekstra, on a Fox News blog.
Somewhat of an unlikely partnership has also formed between Cain and late night talk show host, Stephen Colbert, that Americans are not sure they can take seriously.
Last week, Colbert handed over his Super PAC to another late night comedian, Jon Stewart, and declared his intent to enter the race.
He wished to join South Carolina’s primary ballot, but it turns out he will not be allowed. Therefore, he is encouraging his followers to vote, instead, for Herman Cain, whose name remains on the ballot.
Not counting Stephen Colbert, four Republicans are vying for the nomination in order to oppose incumbent Barack Obama for the Presidency in November.
