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Super Tuesday: Republicans in multi-state showdown Super Tuesday: Republicans in multi-state showdown
(40 minutes later)
Voters in 10 US states are set to pick a Republican presidential candidate, as the rollercoaster race reaches a potentially decisive moment.Voters in 10 US states are set to pick a Republican presidential candidate, as the rollercoaster race reaches a potentially decisive moment.
Super Tuesday sees contests in Ohio, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Oklahoma, Idaho, North Dakota and Alaska.Super Tuesday sees contests in Ohio, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Oklahoma, Idaho, North Dakota and Alaska.
Ohio, too close to call between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, will be the most closely watched battleground.Ohio, too close to call between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, will be the most closely watched battleground.
The eventual nominee challenges Barack Obama in November's general election.The eventual nominee challenges Barack Obama in November's general election.
Front-runner Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and private equity tycoon, has been riding a wave of momentum after four consecutive poll wins.Front-runner Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and private equity tycoon, has been riding a wave of momentum after four consecutive poll wins.
'David and Goliath''David and Goliath'
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 - is 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 - is hoping to halt his rival's winning streak.
Super Tuesday states Super Tuesday states
Pick a state to read about the local primary racePick 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

  • 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.
  • class="state5">

    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.
  • class="state6">

    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.
  • class="state7">

    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.
  • class="state8">

    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."
  • class="state9">

    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.
  • class="state10">

    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.
Former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich, making a do-or-die effort to reboot his flagging campaign, has a commanding opinion poll lead in his home state of Georgia.
Texas Congressman Ron Paul, often 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 it.
"I hope that I get the support of people here in Ohio tomorrow, and in other states across the country," said Mr Romney on the eve of the poll. "I believe if I do, I'll get the nomination."
His well-funded political machine has far outspent Mr Santorum in Ohio, chopping down his double-digit opinion poll lead in the Midwestern bellwether state.
"To suggest this is David and Goliath is probably an understatement," Mr Santorum told reporters on Monday.
A devout Catholic who opposes abortion and gay marriage, he 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, although polls show Mr Romney gaining on him in the latter state.
Mr Romney is seen as the favourite in Virginia's primary - where Mr Santorum and Mr Gingrich failed to qualify for the ballot - and as the all but certain victor in his political heartland of Massachusetts.
He is also expected to win in Idaho, a state with a large Mormon population, and Vermont.
Mr Romney has picked up several coveted endorsements in recent days, including Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, former attorney general John Ashcroft and Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn.
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 33 and 25 for Mr Paul, according to the Associated Press.