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Romney reaps Super Tuesday spoils Romney reaps Super Tuesday spoils
(40 minutes later)
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has crowned a string of Super Tuesday victories with a wafer-thin win in the marquee swing state of Ohio. US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has crowned a string of Super Tuesday victories with a wafer-thin win in the swing state of Ohio.
As expected, he cruised to victory in his home state of Massachusetts, as well as Idaho, Vermont and Virginia.As expected, he cruised to victory in his home state of Massachusetts, as well as Idaho, Vermont and Virginia.
After a cliffhanger count, he narrowly edged out Rick Santorum in Ohio, the night's most coveted prize.After a cliffhanger count, he narrowly edged out Rick Santorum in Ohio, the night's most coveted prize.
Mr Santorum won a hat-trick of contests, while Newt Gingrich took his home state of Georgia.Mr Santorum won a hat-trick of contests, while Newt Gingrich took his home state of Georgia.
Mitt Romney has inched ahead. On paper, looking at the mathematics, he is obviously the winner.Mitt Romney has inched ahead. On paper, looking at the mathematics, he is obviously the winner.
But the point is he's failed to seal the deal. He has the best organisation and the most money but can't deliver a knockout blow.But the point is he's failed to seal the deal. He has the best organisation and the most money but can't deliver a knockout blow.
Rick Santorum has established himself as the main "anti-Mitt".Rick Santorum has established himself as the main "anti-Mitt".
But he would have to pull off some exceptional coups in the next few primaries to convince people that he can be the Republican candidate, rather than just the main repository for conservative protest votes.But he would have to pull off some exceptional coups in the next few primaries to convince people that he can be the Republican candidate, rather than just the main repository for conservative protest votes.
Newt Gingrich has put himself back in the race by winning Georgia: he gets Secret Service protection from today, the US Government's seal of seriousness on a candidate.Newt Gingrich has put himself back in the race by winning Georgia: he gets Secret Service protection from today, the US Government's seal of seriousness on a candidate.
It must feel for Romney like he is crawling across an endless plain on broken glass, the mirage of eventual victory shimmering ever in the distance.It must feel for Romney like he is crawling across an endless plain on broken glass, the mirage of eventual victory shimmering ever in the distance.
Ron Paul was pinning his hopes for his only victory of the nomination campaign on Alaska's caucuses. Ron Paul was pinning his hopes on Alaska's caucuses for his only win of the nomination campaign.
The eventual nominee will be crowned at the Republican convention in August before challenging Barack Obama in November's election.The eventual nominee will be crowned at the Republican convention in August before challenging Barack Obama in November's election.
After Tuesday's 10-state voting marathon, Mr Romney defended his position as the front-runner.After Tuesday's 10-state voting marathon, Mr Romney defended his position as the front-runner.
"I'm going to get this nomination," he told supporters in Boston."I'm going to get this nomination," he told supporters in Boston.
He easily won Massachusetts, where he was governor, as well as liberal-leaning Vermont and Idaho, where his fellow Mormons make up a chunk of the electorate.He easily won Massachusetts, where he was governor, as well as liberal-leaning Vermont and Idaho, where his fellow Mormons make up a chunk of the electorate.
Mr Romney also won resoundingly in Virginia, where Mr Santorum and Mr Gingrich failed to qualify for the ballot.Mr Romney also won resoundingly in Virginia, where Mr Santorum and Mr Gingrich failed to qualify for the ballot.
But Mr Santorum, a former US senator from Pennsylvania, said his victories in Tennessee, Oklahoma and North Dakota proved he was the bona fide conservative alternative to Mr Romney.But Mr Santorum, a former US senator from Pennsylvania, said his victories in Tennessee, Oklahoma and North Dakota proved he was the bona fide conservative alternative to Mr Romney.
"This was a big night tonight," Mr Santorum told supporters in Steubenville, Ohio. "We have won in the West, the Midwest and the South, and we're ready to win across this country.""This was a big night tonight," Mr Santorum told supporters in Steubenville, Ohio. "We have won in the West, the Midwest and the South, and we're ready to win across this country."
Ohio was important because no Republican nominee has taken the White House without winning the Midwestern bellwether state in the general election.Ohio was important because no Republican nominee has taken the White House without winning the Midwestern bellwether state in the general election.
Mr Santorum began the race there with a big lead in the opinion polls, but Mr Romney's well-funded political machine overcame him in part by virtually saturating the airwaves with attack adverts.Mr Santorum began the race there with a big lead in the opinion polls, but Mr Romney's well-funded political machine overcame him in part by virtually saturating the airwaves with attack adverts.
Mr Santorum has attracted the support of religious conservatives with his opposition to gay marriage and abortion.Mr Santorum has attracted the support of religious conservatives with his opposition to gay marriage and abortion.
But correspondents say his outspoken remarks on birth control and the role of religion may have turned off moderate-leaning voters.But correspondents say his outspoken remarks on birth control and the role of religion may have turned off moderate-leaning voters.
Exit polls showed Ohio voters thought Mr Romney stood the best chance of beating Mr Obama, however, Mr Santorum appealed more to blue-collar voters.Exit polls showed Ohio voters thought Mr Romney stood the best chance of beating Mr Obama, however, Mr Santorum appealed more to blue-collar voters.
Mr Gingrich, the former House speaker, did not achieve the sweep of Southern states he hoped for.Mr Gingrich, the former House speaker, did not achieve the sweep of Southern states he hoped for.
But he vowed to stay in the race after his Georgia win.But he vowed to stay in the race after his Georgia win.
"There are lots of bunny rabbits to run through, I am the tortoise. I just take one step at a time," Gingrich said."There are lots of bunny rabbits to run through, I am the tortoise. I just take one step at a time," Gingrich said.

Delegate totals

0 300 600
  • Mitt Romney
  • Rick Santorum
  • Newt Gingrich
  • Ron Paul
  • 386
  • 156
  • 85
  • 40

Delegate totals

0 300 600
  • Mitt Romney
  • Rick Santorum
  • Newt Gingrich
  • Ron Paul
  • 407
  • 169
  • 102
  • 41
See detail of all states wonSee detail of all states won
A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to winA candidate needs 1,144 delegates to win
The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says the race is not over yet as the next crop of primaries and caucuses will not do Mr Romney any favours.The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says the race is not over yet as the next crop of primaries and caucuses will not do Mr Romney any favours.
Kansas, Alabama, Mississippi and Hawaii hold their contests over the next 10 days.Kansas, Alabama, Mississippi and Hawaii hold their contests over the next 10 days.
Our correspondent says Mr Santorum and Mr Gingrich will be hoping to halt Romney's momentum and keep their challenges alive. Our correspondent says Mr Santorum and Mr Gingrich will be hoping to halt Mr Romney's momentum and keep their challenges alive.
The drawn-out nomination fight, which has been waged in large part through negative television adverts, may have taken its toll on the Republican Party.The drawn-out nomination fight, which has been waged in large part through negative television adverts, may have taken its toll on the Republican Party.
A Washington Post/ABC News poll showed only 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 showed only 35% of Americans looked upon Mr Romney favourably, compared to 32% for Mr Paul, 23% for Mr Gingrich, and 32% for Mr Santorum.
Out of the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the Republican presidential nomination at the party convention in August, more than 400 were up for grabs in Tuesday's contests. Out of the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the Republican presidential nomination, more than 400 were up for grabs on Tuesday.
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.