Romney expected to suspend campaign or withdraw
WASHINGTON -- Republican Mitt Romney is expected to suspend his campaign or withdraw completely from the GOP presidential race, according to a Romney source in California.
The former Massachusetts governor, who was in second place in the delegate count, is expected to make clear his plans in an appearance soon before CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference that is a touchstone for the party faithful.
A withdrawal would effectively cede the nomination to Arizona Sen. John McCain, and puts pressure on former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to withdraw as well.
Romney had spent the last few weeks trying to convince Republican voters that he was the conservative alternative to front-runner John McCain. But results in Super Tuesday primary contests left him a distant second to McCain and Romney held a strategy session Wednesday with family and advisors.
A venture capitalist who has invested at least $50 million of his own money in the campaign, Romney is said to hope that if withdraws, he can return to the field again in coming years.
In his remarks to CPAC, Romney is expected to say that he decided that if he continued his campaign it would "forestall the launch" of the Republican's national campaign and "make it more likely" that the Democratic candidate, either Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of Barack Obama would prevail in November.
