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Rivals vie for Super Tuesday prize Republicans vie for Super Tuesday prize
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has won Super Tuesday contests in his home state of Massachusetts, as well as Virginia and Vermont. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is projected to have won Super Tuesday contests in Massachusetts, as well as Virginia and Vermont.
And Newt Gingrich is projected win Georgia's primary, as polling stations close and results stream in. And Newt Gingrich is forecast to win Georgia's primary, where he is seeking to revive his flagging campaign with sweep of the Southern states.
The former House speaker hopes a convincing win there could launch a Southern sweep that would revive his flagging campaign. Rick Santorum has been projected to win Tennessee, but the race in Ohio between him and Mr Romney is too close to call.
The eventual nominee will challenge Barack Obama in November's election.The eventual nominee will challenge Barack Obama in November's election.
Voting has also closed in the key state of Ohio, where Mr Romney and Rick Santorum were in a close contest. That race remains too close to call. Also voting on Tuesday were Oklahoma, Idaho, North Dakota, Alaska.
Also voting on Tuesday were Tennessee, Oklahoma, Idaho, North Dakota, Alaska. href="/news/special/world/us_and_canada/11/republican_primaries/state_election_tables/css/table.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
Super Tuesday states
Pick a state to read about the local primary race

  • Alaska

    24 delegates

    The home state of 2008 Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, Alaska is seen as a potential first win for Ron Paul. The libertarian was in Alaska at the weekend, making him the only candidate to travel there. But Mrs Palin, the former governor, still commands significant influence among the Republican base, and has veered close to endorsing Mr Gingrich.

  • Georgia

    76 delegates

    Newt Gingrich's home state is seen as the former House speaker's last stand. He hopes to win big enough in the day's largest delegate haul to give his flagging campaign a needed boost - and prove there is still a role for him in the race. However, Mr Santorum's social conservative message plays well with this southern state's Christian conservative voters.

  • Idaho

    32 delegates

    Mr Romney is expected to do well in party caucuses in this western state: About a quarter of the Republican voters here are his fellow Mormons. Idaho Republicans have never before held caucuses, and state officials are urging Republicans to turn out. "This experiment will only work if we have broad participation," Lt Governor Brad Little told the Statesman newspaper.

  • Massachusetts

    38 delegates

    Mr Romney was governor of Massachusetts from 2003-07 and is widely expected to dominate at the ballot box. Massachusetts is one of the bluest - most strongly Democratic - states in the US. Its Republican electorate is seen as more moderate and less energised by socially conservative issues, and thus less receptive to Mr Gingrich and Mr Santorum.

  • North Dakota

    28 delegates

    One of the most consistently Republican states in the US, sparsely populated North Dakota last voted for a Democrat in the 1964 general election. Every candidate but Mr Gingrich has visited the state, and Ron Paul returns on Tuesday. Mr Santorum has done well in Mid-Western states, while Mr Paul's enthusiastic network of supporters could flood the caucus-style contests.

  • Ohio

    63 delegates

    This rust belt state's broad electorate makes it a perennial bellwether the Republicans must win in the November election to retake the White House. Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are running neck and neck here and a win for Mr Santorum would give him considerable momentum, analysts say. If Mr Romney wins, pressure will mount on other candidates to drop out of the race.

  • Oklahoma

    40 delegates

    One of the most conservative states in the US, Oklahoma seems a natural fit for Mr Santorum and his strident anti-abortion, "family values" message. Most polls showed Mr Santorum in the lead, but the other candidates have also campaigned here, and Senator Tom Coburn, an influential conservative, has endorsed Mr Romney.

  • Tennessee

    55 delegates

    Rick Santorum maintains a slight lead in recent polls in this Bible belt state. But Mitt Romney has won the endorsement of the state's popular governor and is nipping at Mr Santorum's heels. "Santorum needs to do well to keep his campaign alive," says the BBC's Paul Adams. "Success for Romney would suggest he is genuinely competitive in the South."

  • Vermont

    17 delegates

    A recent poll showed Mr Romney leading in Vermont. It is one of the most liberal states in the country, and strident conservatives like Mr Gingrich and Mr Santorum hold little appeal for its voters. Also, voters here know Mr Romney from his tenure as governor of neighbouring Massachusetts.

  • Virginia

    46 delegates

    Only Mr Romney and Mr Paul are on the ballot, because Mr Santorum and Mr Gingrich lacked the organisation to gather the requisite 10,000 signatures. Mr Romney has won the endorsement of Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor, the number-two Republican in the House of Representatives. Before Barack Obama won the state in 2008, the last Democrat to do so was Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
Front-runner Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and private equity tycoon, has been riding a wave of momentum after poll wins in recent weeks.Front-runner Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and private equity tycoon, has been riding a wave of momentum after poll wins in recent weeks.
But former Pennsylvania Senator Santorum - who bills himself as the true conservative in the race and a candidate who can win over blue-collar voters - has been hoping to halt his rival's winning streak.But former Pennsylvania Senator Santorum - who bills himself as the true conservative in the race and a candidate who can win over blue-collar voters - has been hoping to halt his rival's winning streak.
Texas Congressman Ron Paul, widely dismissed as a longshot candidate because of his libertarian-leaning views, hopes to notch up his first wins in Alaska and North Dakota's caucuses.Texas Congressman Ron Paul, widely dismissed as a longshot candidate because of his libertarian-leaning views, hopes to notch up his first wins in Alaska and North Dakota's caucuses.
Rust-belt Ohio, a crucial swing state, is rated as Tuesday's most coveted prize as no Republican nominee has ever become president without winning the state in the general election.Rust-belt Ohio, a crucial swing state, is rated as Tuesday's most coveted prize as no Republican nominee has ever become president without winning the state in the general election.
The BBC's North America editor, Mark Mardell, says there will be renewed questions asked about Mr Romney's appeal if he fails to win Ohio.The BBC's North America editor, Mark Mardell, says there will be renewed questions asked about Mr Romney's appeal if he fails to win Ohio.
Many believe it is inevitable that Mr Romney will eventually be chosen to take on Barack Obama, our correspondent says, but few feel hugely inspired by the former Massachusetts governor.Many believe it is inevitable that Mr Romney will eventually be chosen to take on Barack Obama, our correspondent says, but few feel hugely inspired by the former Massachusetts governor.
This whole contest has been driven by the quest of the dominant conservative wing of the party to find somebody who is not Mr Romney, he adds, someone who is a true believer.This whole contest has been driven by the quest of the dominant conservative wing of the party to find somebody who is not Mr Romney, he adds, someone who is a true believer.
A Washington Post/ABC News poll released on Tuesday showed 35% of Americans looked upon Mr Romney favourably, compared to 32% for Mr Paul, 23% for Mr Gingrich, and 32% for Mr Santorum.A Washington Post/ABC News poll released on Tuesday showed 35% of Americans looked upon Mr Romney favourably, compared to 32% for Mr Paul, 23% for Mr Gingrich, and 32% for Mr Santorum.
The Washington Post called the results "a sobering reminder for the party that the extended primary season has damaged the brand".The Washington Post called the results "a sobering reminder for the party that the extended primary season has damaged the brand".
Mr Romney's well-funded political machine has far outspent Mr Santorum in Ohio, chopping down his double-digit opinion poll lead in the Midwestern bellwether state.Mr Romney's well-funded political machine has far outspent Mr Santorum in Ohio, chopping down his double-digit opinion poll lead in the Midwestern bellwether state.
A devout Catholic who opposes abortion and gay marriage, Mr Santorum has sought to exploit lingering doubts among some conservatives about Mr Romney, a Mormon who governed in a liberal state.A devout Catholic who opposes abortion and gay marriage, Mr Santorum has sought to exploit lingering doubts among some conservatives about Mr Romney, a Mormon who governed in a liberal state.
As well as Ohio, Mr Santorum is also hoping for victories in Oklahoma and Tennessee. Mr Santorum is also hoping for a win in Oklahoma.
The significance of Mr Romney's projected win in Virginia was unclear, as Mr Santorum and Mr Gingrich failed to qualify for the ballot there. Mr Romney was on course for a convincing victory in Virginia, where Mr Santorum and Mr Gingrich failed to qualify for the ballot.
His projected victory in Vermont came as no surprise, as it is next door to Massachusetts, where he was governor for four years. His projected victory in Massachusetts came as no surprise as he was governor there for four years. He was also expected to take Vermont as it is next door to his political heartland.
He won in Massachusetts and has the advantage in Idaho, a state with a large Mormon population. Analysts say Mr Romney has the advantage in Idaho, a state with a large Mormon population.
Well wishes were extended to Mr Romney from an unexpected quarter on Tuesday - during a White House news conference.Well wishes were extended to Mr Romney from an unexpected quarter on Tuesday - during a White House news conference.
When asked what he made of Mr Romney branding him America's "most feckless president since Jimmy Carter", Barack Obama paused, smiled, and replied: "Good luck tonight," adding: "No, really".When asked what he made of Mr Romney branding him America's "most feckless president since Jimmy Carter", Barack Obama paused, smiled, and replied: "Good luck tonight," adding: "No, really".
Out of the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the Republican presidential nomination at the party convention in August, more than 400 are at stake in Tuesday's contests.Out of the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the Republican presidential nomination at the party convention in August, more than 400 are at stake in Tuesday's contests.
Ahead of the 10-state voting marathon, Mr Romney had a solid lead with 203 delegates, compared with 92 for Mr Santorum, 33 for Mr Gingrich and 25 for Mr Paul, according to the Associated Press.Ahead of the 10-state voting marathon, Mr Romney had a solid lead with 203 delegates, compared with 92 for Mr Santorum, 33 for Mr Gingrich and 25 for Mr Paul, according to the Associated Press.
Are you in one of the 10 US states voting today? What do you think of the campaigns so far? Send us your comments and experiences.Are you in one of the 10 US states voting today? What do you think of the campaigns so far? Send us your comments and experiences.