Rivals hope to block Romney trifecta in SC

Rivals hope to block Romney trifecta in SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Mitt Romney says he’s ready for an uphill climb in South Carolina after coasting through New Hampshire. As the Republican presidential contest moves south, his rivals are sharpening their attacks and hoping to win over tea partyers and religious conservatives who feel uncomfortable with the front-runner. Still, Romney continued to project a confident style today that must be wearing on his five opponents. He dismissed much of their criticism as stemming from desperation. And he said that while several can raise enough campaign money to keep the nomination fight going, “I expect them to fall by the wayside eventually for lack of voters.”