Mitt Romney sweeps five states; attacks Barack Obama

Mitt Romney on Wednesday cemented his position as the Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting by sweeping the primaries in five key states and took on President Barack Obama by promising a "better America" and charging him with being a "failure" in office.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, rolled to easy double-digit victories in five Northeastern states -Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island - with a combined 231 delegates.

Far ahead of the field in the battle for delegates, 65-year-old Romney became the presumptive nominee on April 10 after his closest rival, former US Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, suspended his campaign.

Romney has 695 of the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nomination, with Santorum holding 273 delegates, Gingrich 141 and Paul 72. Obama already has clinched the Democratic nomination.

Soon after his resounding victory, Romney turned his full focus to the general election showdown with Obama in November.

"I have a simple message: Hold on a little longer. A better America begins tonight," Romney said in his victory speech in Manchester, New Hampshire.

"Tonight is the start of a new campaign to unite every American who knows in their heart that we can do better. The last few years have been the best that Barack Obama can do, but it's not the best America can do," Romney said.

"Tonight is the beginning of the end of the disappointments of the Obama years," Romney said in his remarks after mainstream media outlets virtually declared him as the presumptive Republican nominee.

Arguing that Obama has failed in office, he added, "Because he has failed, he will run a campaign of diversions and distractions and distortions. That kind of campaign may have worked at another place and in a different time — but not here and not now."

"It's the start of a new and better chapter that we will write together. There's already been a long campaign, but many Americans are just now beginning to focus on the choice before the country. In the days ahead, I'll look forward to spending time with many of you personally," Romney said.

Romney outlined the themes of his campaign against Obama, asking Americans, accusing the president of failing to deliver on his campaign pledges of hope and change.

"After 25 years, I know how to lead us out of this stagnant Obama economy and into a job-creating recovery. Four years ago, Barack Obama dazzled us in front of Greek columns with sweeping promises of hope and change. But after we came down to earth, after all the celebration and the parades, what do we have to show for three-and-a-half years of President Obama?" Romney questioned.

"People are hurting in America. We know that something is wrong, terribly wrong, with the direction of the country. We know that this election is about the kind of America we will live in and the kind of America we're going to leave to future generations," he said.

Romney's speech focused exclusively on the economy.

"When it comes to the character of America, President Obama and I have very different visions. Government is at the center of his vision. It dispenses the benefits, borrows what it can't take, consumes a greater and greater share of the economy.

"You know, with Obamacare fully installed, government would have control of almost half of the economy, and we would have effectively ceased to be a free enterprise society," he said.

Romney alleged that Obama is putting America on a path where their lives will be ruled by bureaucrats and boards, commissions and czars.

"He's asking us to accept that Washington knows best and can provide all. We've already seen where that path leads. It erodes freedom. It deadens the entrepreneurial spirit. And it hurts the very people it's supposed to help. Those who promise to spread the wealth around only ever succeed in spreading poverty around," he said.