Tampa, Fla. – In his victory speech tonight Mitt Romney
acknowledge the fact this
race is looking more and more like it will be a long one.

“A competitive primary does not divide us; it prepares us.
 And when we gather here in Tampa seven months from now for
our convention, ours will be a united party with a winning ticket
for America!” he proclaimed to a joyful crowd at the Tampa
Convention Center. 

With 95% reporting,
Romney won the Florida Republican primary with 46% of the vote.
Gingrich finished second with 32% while Rick Santorum and Ron Paul
finished a distant third and fourth with 13% and 7%,
respectively. 

Romney spent little time worrying about the potentially divided
primary and quickly pivoted from pleasantries to general
election campaign mode. Romney went after President Obama question
his leadership abilities, particularly his handling of the
economy. “Leadership is about taking responsibility, not
making excuses. In another era of American crisis, Thomas Paine is
reported to have said, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” Mr.
President, you were elected to lead, you chose to follow, and now
it’s time for you to get out of the way!”, he said, throwing a bit
of red meat to the crowd.

Romney got in another great zinger mocking the president’s 2008
slogan before wrapping up.

“Together, we will build an America where “hope” is a new job
with a paycheck, not a faded word on an old bumper sticker,” he
said.

Meanwhile, the Romney campaign was busy hawking these “Believe”
t-shirts in the
lobby.