ATLANTA — Mitt Romney and wife Ann served up pancakes to supporters here Sunday morning, then the former Massachusetts governor served up a subtle dig at rival Newt Gingrich in his home state, saying Romney won't pander on the issue of gas prices.
"It's critical that the person we nominate is someone who understands the economy, who has credibility when it comes to the economy," Romney told supporters. "Not someone who can just spout the words that they've read, but someone who's actually lived in the real economy."
Romney's quick stopover in Georgia came two days before the biggest prize so far in what has turned into a grinding battle for the GOP presidential nomination. The four GOP candidates are competing for 419 delegates on Super Tuesday, the most on any single day of voting. Three delegate-rich states could be pivotal: Gingrich's home state of Georgia (76 delegates), Ohio (76) and Tennessee (58).
The latest polls, according to the website RealClearPolitics, have Gingrich leading in Georgia and tight races between Santorum and Romney in Ohio and Tennessee.
NBC Chief White House Correspondent Chuck Todd said the positive trend of winning is just as important as delegates. "I just think it's a momentum thing," Todd said in a recent interview with KSL-TV. "We're in one of those places where momentum is everything."
Romney has won the last three contests between the candidates last week in Michigan, Arizona and Washington.
A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to secure the nomination.
In perhaps a positive sign for Romney, the former Utah Olympic CEO, the total number of delegates remaining to be awarded is 2,002.
Email: jdaley@ksl.com