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(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Carole Mikita reporting
State Republicans, Democrats and other supporters are reacting to the Mitt Romney's exit from the presidential race. Everyone Eyewitness News spoke with said Romney's announcement was not expected yet. Most thought he would stay in the race until the beginning of March.
When Romney kicked off his presidential campaign, he stopped in Utah, receiving overwhelming support from Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert and state legislators. Today, Herbert said it's a bit disappointing but not really a surprise.
"There's a lot to be proud of, grateful for. I mean, he came out of nowhere. Nobody gave him any chance at all to get the nomination and yet, he's come within a gnat's eyelash of getting the brass ring," Herbert said.
Romney's 90 percent Super Tuesday win in Utah was seconded only by Barack Obama, who got 57 percent of the Democrats' vote. The state Democratic Party chairman believes this year's election could bring a lot of crossover votes. "I hear many, many people who have been strong supporters of Governor Romney say many times, they have for weeks, they would love to vote for Barack Obama," Wayne Holland said.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who is a McCain supporter, issued this statement, in part: "Governor Mitt Romney is a great Republican who ran a strong campaign. He made the most magnanimous of political gestures today by putting his country and party before himself. This says more about an individual's character and priorities than anything else."
Sen. Orrin Hatch talked with CNN today about what this means to the Republican race. "I think it's just a very cautious approach after he's, you know, run so well [and] did not do really well on Super Tuesday. I think it's a cautious approach to make sure his delegates go to the right person," Hatch said.
During a 24-hour campaign fundraising marathon last summer, we found Olympic gold medalist Derek Parra making calls for Romney. "Ii think he's a great candidate, the best candidate, but I understand his reasoning and support him in the decisions he makes. But yeah, I was definitely disappointed. It's been a long, hard fight for him," Parra said.
Although today likely brings the end of a 2008 candidacy, everyone we talked to believes Romney will return to politics.
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