The Republican presidential primary ended with Mitt Romney the victor when Rick Santorum bowed out yesterday, though Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul would beg to differ, according to NBC’s First Read team. After 32 contests, 20 debates and some $240 million spent by candidates and Super PACS, one core lesson from the 2012 primary was that money and organization still mattered, First Read reported. But the blog notes the drawn out primary has hurt the Republican brand and asks whether going forward Romney will be able to win over conservatives who have been reluctant to support him.
