Republican Presidential candidacy: Mitt Romney close after Nevada win

PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Mitt Romney cruised to his second victory in a week as he consolidated his position as favourite to win a Republican shot at the White House.

The former Massachusetts governor won big in Nevada, with state caucuses on course to return a 25 percentage point victory for him over bitter rival Newt Gingrich.

Although only delivering a few delegates that will go on to decide the party nomination, the result confirms Mr Romney’s status as a frontrunner.

In a further boost to the Romney camp, Nevada was won with the apparent blessing of the state’s conservatives.

For the first time in the primary season, the moderate Republican received the support of a majority of those who align on the right of the party. Nearly six in every ten voters who identified themselves as “conservative” voted for Mr Romney.

It will serve to strengthen the notion that the Republican rank and file are increasingly falling behind the party establishment’s favoured candidate.

Mr Romney was also aided by the strong backing of Mormon voters. His fellow believers in the faith make up a quarter of caucus goers in Nevada.

With the majority of Republican meetings having reported their results, Mr Romney sat on 48 per cent of the vote. Mr Gingrich pulled in 23 per cent, ahead of libertarian-leaning candidate Ron Paul on 18 per cent.

Rick Santorum, a favourite of the party’s religious right, trailed the rest of the field and is in danger of becoming an also-ran unless he can recapture his earlier support.

The next big test is Super Tuesday on 6 March, when a host of states will hold primary elections and caucuses. Ahead of that, Mr Romney will be hoping to pick up victories in a smattering of states that will hold caucuses throughout February.

Tomorrow will see Republican voters in Colorado and Minnesota register their preference for the party’s presidential ticket. It will be followed by Maine on Saturday.

Mr Romney’s campaign has not only the momentum, but the money to pick off the states.

A multi-millionaire in his own rights, Mr Romney’s supporters have amassed a war chest of more than $30 million (£19m) to spend.

To date, much of the money spent has been used to attack former House speaker Mr Gingrich.

On Saturday, Mr Gingrich told supporters that withdrawal in the race would be the Romney camp’s “greatest fantasy”.

“I’m not going to withdraw, I’m actually pretty happy with where we are. And I think the contrast between Governor Romney and me is going to get wider and wider and clearer and clearer over the next few weeks.”

Mr Gingrich’s campaign is being bankrolled by casino magnate and pro-Israeli lobbyist Sheldon Adelson. But even with the businessman’s millions, it may be difficult to counter the well-oiled Romney machine in the weeks to come.

An article in the New York Times suggested that Mr Adeslon may switch his alliance to Mr Romney in the event that Mr Gingrich drops out.

A friend of Mr Adeslon told the newspaper that the billionaire’s “overriding issue” was ousting president Barack Obama from the White House.

Mr Obama has been accused by would-be Republican challengers of not being a true friend of Israel, with one going as far as accusing him of “appeasing” Palestinian terrorism.