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| Mitt Romney seeks conservative backing | Mitt Romney seeks conservative backing |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney is preparing to woo a major gathering of US conservatives, amid renewed concern over his campaign. | Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney is preparing to woo a major gathering of US conservatives, amid renewed concern over his campaign. |
| He is expected to use a speech to set out his credentials at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). | He is expected to use a speech to set out his credentials at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). |
| Rivals Rick Santorum - who won a hat-trick of state caucuses and primaries on Tuesday - and Newt Gingrich are also addressing the CPAC delegates. | Rivals Rick Santorum - who won a hat-trick of state caucuses and primaries on Tuesday - and Newt Gingrich are also addressing the CPAC delegates. |
| The three are battling for the right to challenge Barack Obama in November. | The three are battling for the right to challenge Barack Obama in November. |
| Mr Romney has long been seen as the front-runner and the favoured candidate of the Republican elite. | Mr Romney has long been seen as the front-runner and the favoured candidate of the Republican elite. |
| But he has struggled to convince conservative voters, who represent a key portion of the party's primary-season electorate, that he is the right candidate for them. | But he has struggled to convince conservative voters, who represent a key portion of the party's primary-season electorate, that he is the right candidate for them. |
| A former governor of Massachusetts, Mr Romney is seen as having previously held moderate views on social issues, including abortion. | A former governor of Massachusetts, Mr Romney is seen as having previously held moderate views on social issues, including abortion. |
| Mr Santorum, by contrast, has seen his long-standing support for social conservative touchstones win him new support as the primary season has unfolded. | Mr Santorum, by contrast, has seen his long-standing support for social conservative touchstones win him new support as the primary season has unfolded. |
| In his speech on Friday morning he implored conservatives to stand up for their beliefs and made a veiled reference to Mr Romney's troubles with the Republican base. | In his speech on Friday morning he implored conservatives to stand up for their beliefs and made a veiled reference to Mr Romney's troubles with the Republican base. |
| "We're going to win with contrasts, we're going to win with ideas, we're going to win by making Barack Obama and his failed policies the issue in this race. | |
| "Why would the an undecided voter vote for a candidate the party is not excited about?" he said. | |
| 'Part of the problem' | 'Part of the problem' |
| Speaking to Fox News on Thursday evening, Mr Romney defended his conservative pedigree, and insisted he would make that plain in Friday's speech. | Speaking to Fox News on Thursday evening, Mr Romney defended his conservative pedigree, and insisted he would make that plain in Friday's speech. |
| "I have a record of being a strong conservative on the issues that matter, and I'll point that out to my friends at CPAC," he told Fox host Sean Hannity. | "I have a record of being a strong conservative on the issues that matter, and I'll point that out to my friends at CPAC," he told Fox host Sean Hannity. |
| He spent Thursday meeting potential donors and influential conservative groups in small sessions, although some sceptics of his campaign were absent, the New York Times reported. | He spent Thursday meeting potential donors and influential conservative groups in small sessions, although some sceptics of his campaign were absent, the New York Times reported. |
| Both Mr Romney and Mr Gingrich assailed Rick Santorum over his record in Congress ahead of their stage time on Friday. | Both Mr Romney and Mr Gingrich assailed Rick Santorum over his record in Congress ahead of their stage time on Friday. |
| Mr Romney's campaign labelled the former Pennsylvania senator "part of the problem" on spending and debt, contending that he repeatedly voted to raise the US debt limit while in Congress, and reprised attacks on him over congressional earmarks. | Mr Romney's campaign labelled the former Pennsylvania senator "part of the problem" on spending and debt, contending that he repeatedly voted to raise the US debt limit while in Congress, and reprised attacks on him over congressional earmarks. |
| Mr Gingrich, who largely stepped aside from this week's battles in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, said his conservative record was stronger than Mr Santorum's. | Mr Gingrich, who largely stepped aside from this week's battles in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, said his conservative record was stronger than Mr Santorum's. |
| "He was a big labour Republican who consistently voted with the unions," during his time in Congress, Mr Gingrich told Fox News. | "He was a big labour Republican who consistently voted with the unions," during his time in Congress, Mr Gingrich told Fox News. |
| Mr Romney ended his 2008 presidential bid at that year's CPAC event. | Mr Romney ended his 2008 presidential bid at that year's CPAC event. |