From Orlando, Florida -
Ten days after a 12 point loss in South Carolina, Mitt Romney turned the tables on Newt Gingrich, administering a Florida Primary drubbing to Gingrich and reclaiming the momentum in the race for the GOP nomination.
Romney's win showcased both the advantage he holds in money over Gingrich and in organization, as in county after county, Romney's get out the vote operation produced big results in the major population areas of Florida.
Romney won nearly every major media market in Florida, a testament to the millions of dollars in ads poured into the state by his campaign and outside groups that back the former Massachusetts Governor.
In his accceptance speech, Romney congratulated his three GOP challengers and then focused entirely on President Obama, as he warned Democrats that division among Republicans would not mean a Democratic victory in November.
"A competitive primary does not divide us, it prepares us - and we will win," Romney said to loud cheers, vowing a winning ticket "with a united party."
It was a speech that the Romney people clearly wanted to use to frame this as a race between Romney and the President.
"You know the results," Romney said of the Obama Administration. "It's been 35 months of unemployment above eight percent," as he ticked off a list of economic stump speech points.
"I stand ready to lead this party and to lead our nation," Romney added to more cheers.
Romney's cash advantage gave him a big edge in all areas except along I-10 in the north of Florida, where Gingrich won a number of smaller, more conservative counties.
In fact, Gingrich actually won 34 counties to 33 for Romney - but of those 34 counties, 28 were the smallest in Florida in terms of population.
For example, Gingrich won a number of counties where very few votes were cast: Gingrich won Liberty County with 74 votes, Calhoun County with 286 votes and Glades County with 297 votes.
You get the picture.
Romney meanwhile won the state's three largest counties, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach by a total of 70,000 votes.
Gingrich began his speech by trying to argue the race was just about him and Romney, again urging voters to reject a "Massachusetts Moderate."
And Gingrich gave no sign he would surrender any time soon.
"We are going to contest every place and we are going to win and we will be in Tampa as the nominee in August," Gingrich said, as he talked about how there are still 46 states to go.
Gingrich is right about that - but momentum - which plays such a big role in these races, is back in the hands of Romney.
At least for now.
