McCain nears nomination

From Staff and Wire Reports

Published: February 8, 2008

WASHINGTON — A decision by Mitt Romney to suspend his bid for president means that John McCain effectively has sealed the Republican nomination.

Romney, in making his decision, said, "I must now stand aside, for our party and our country.”

"If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror,” Romney told the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.

Romney's decision provides a remarkable turnaround for McCain.

Oklahomans' reaction

Key Oklahoma supporters of Romney's presidential candidacy said they were disappointed Romney had dropped out of the race but that they were ready to back McCain if he gets the GOP nomination.

Former state Rep. Thad Balkman, who headed Romney's Oklahoma campaign, said the former candidate got into the race with little name recognition and was never able to break through.

Balkman said he agreed with Romney that suspending his campaign was the right thing to do. He said he would support McCain and is optimistic McCain would advance "the conservative ideas ... Romney was talking about.”

Bunny Chambers of Oklahoma City, who serves on the Republican National Committee, said she was surprised and disappointed at the news.

She said she will support McCain. "Right now, we're going to have to move forward.”

Madill attorney Lynn Windell, who serves on the Republican National Committee, said Romney's decision was "understandable in the circumstances he was in.”

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