Romney gets Secret Service protection

Following his convincing victory in the Florida Republican primary, The Associated Press reports that Mitt Romney will now be accompanied by Secret Service protection. AP:

"A Romney campaign adviser said the Secret Service will provide security for the former Massachusetts governor starting late Wednesday.

Romney's campaign requested the protection, an administration official said. The official said the administration determined that Romney met all the conditions for protection. Those include being a major presidential candidate who has raised a certain amount of money."

ABC News first reported the development. Romney's perfect hair and jaw line had been previously protected by two to three paid former Secret Service agents at each event. AP notes that Secret Service protection is given to each major party's presidential nominee but can be provided earlier if the Homeland Security Department approves a campaign's request.

When then-Sen. Barack Obama was placed under Secret Service protection in May 2007, it was the earliest ever for a presidential candidate. Hillary Clinton already had a protective detail because she was a former first lady.

As a result of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination, Congress first authorized the protection of major presidential and vice presidential candidates and nominees in 1968. Congress also authorized the protection of widows of presidents until death, or remarriage, and their children until age 16 at that time.

One of Romney's rivals, businessman Herman Cain, had received Secret Service protection in November 2011. He dropped out of the race in December.