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Romney seeks Wisconsin, Maryland and DC primary wins Romney seeks Wisconsin, Maryland and DC primary wins
(about 6 hours later)
Mitt Romney is aiming for a triple primary victory as voters in Wisconsin, Maryland and Washington DC pick a Republican presidential candidate.Mitt Romney is aiming for a triple primary victory as voters in Wisconsin, Maryland and Washington DC pick a Republican presidential candidate.
The former Massachusetts governor is hoping to knock main rival Rick Santorum out of the race so he can sew up his party's nomination.The former Massachusetts governor is hoping to knock main rival Rick Santorum out of the race so he can sew up his party's nomination.
Opinion polls suggest Mr Romney is leading in Wisconsin and Maryland.Opinion polls suggest Mr Romney is leading in Wisconsin and Maryland.
But Mr Santorum does not seem ready to bow out of the race to become the challenger to President Barack Obama.But Mr Santorum does not seem ready to bow out of the race to become the challenger to President Barack Obama.
Polls opened in all three primaries at 07:00 local time and will close at 20:00 (01:00 GMT Wednesday in Maryland and Washington, 02:00 in Wisconsin).Polls opened in all three primaries at 07:00 local time and will close at 20:00 (01:00 GMT Wednesday in Maryland and Washington, 02:00 in Wisconsin).
Mr Santorum is expected to be competitive only in the mid-western state of Wisconsin, where he has concentrated his campaign in recent days.Mr Santorum is expected to be competitive only in the mid-western state of Wisconsin, where he has concentrated his campaign in recent days.
A total of 42 delegates are at stake in Wisconsin's winner-take-all primary, with 37 up for grabs in the eastern state of Maryland and 16 in Washington DC - where Mr Santorum is not even on the ballot.A total of 42 delegates are at stake in Wisconsin's winner-take-all primary, with 37 up for grabs in the eastern state of Maryland and 16 in Washington DC - where Mr Santorum is not even on the ballot.
'Crushing dreams''Crushing dreams'
Mr Romney cannot reach the winning post in the coming contests, but US projections put him close to the point where Mr Santorum would be unable to catch him in the race for nominating delegates.Mr Romney cannot reach the winning post in the coming contests, but US projections put him close to the point where Mr Santorum would be unable to catch him in the race for nominating delegates.
If Mr Romney fails to score a decisive blow against Mr Santorum on Tuesday, he will try to do so in the former senator's home state of Pennsylvania, which holds its primary on 24 April.If Mr Romney fails to score a decisive blow against Mr Santorum on Tuesday, he will try to do so in the former senator's home state of Pennsylvania, which holds its primary on 24 April.
As of Monday, Mr Romney had 568 of the 1,144 delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination at the party's convention in August, according to an Associated Press tally. As of Monday, Mr Romney had 572 of the 1,144 delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination at the party's convention in August, according to an Associated Press tally.
Mr Santorum was far behind with 273 delegates, while Newt Gingrich had 135 and Ron Paul 50. Mr Santorum was far behind with 272 delegates, while Newt Gingrich had 135 and Ron Paul 50.
Mr Romney's campaign was given a boost last week in Wisconsin by an endorsement from local congressman and budget committee chairman Paul Ryan.Mr Romney's campaign was given a boost last week in Wisconsin by an endorsement from local congressman and budget committee chairman Paul Ryan.
Campaigning with Mr Ryan on Monday at a building supply company in Green Bay, Mr Romney said: "Take the next step here in Wisconsin. I need you to go out and vote. Get your friends."Campaigning with Mr Ryan on Monday at a building supply company in Green Bay, Mr Romney said: "Take the next step here in Wisconsin. I need you to go out and vote. Get your friends."
But Mr Santorum was sounding optimistic about his chances in Wisconsin, Tuesday's most important primary, where the race was closest between the two candidates.But Mr Santorum was sounding optimistic about his chances in Wisconsin, Tuesday's most important primary, where the race was closest between the two candidates.
"We're going to have a good result here in Wisconsin," he told Fox News. "Maybe even sneak in and have an upset.""We're going to have a good result here in Wisconsin," he told Fox News. "Maybe even sneak in and have an upset."
He unveiled a TV advertisement that showed Mr Romney's face transforming into that of Mr Obama, and said his campaign had been successful even in the face of his rival's "overwhelming money and overwhelming establishment support".He unveiled a TV advertisement that showed Mr Romney's face transforming into that of Mr Obama, and said his campaign had been successful even in the face of his rival's "overwhelming money and overwhelming establishment support".

Delegate totals

0 500 1000
  • Mitt Romney
  • Rick Santorum
  • Newt Gingrich
  • Ron Paul
  • 572
  • 272
  • 135
  • 51

Delegate totals

0 500 1000
  • Mitt Romney
  • Rick Santorum
  • Newt Gingrich
  • Ron Paul
  • 572
  • 272
  • 135
  • 51
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
Mr Romney all but ignored his Republican rivals to attack Democratic President Obama, accusing him of "crushing dreams" with a "government-centered society".Mr Romney all but ignored his Republican rivals to attack Democratic President Obama, accusing him of "crushing dreams" with a "government-centered society".
"He takes his political inspiration from the capitals of Europe," Mr Romney told supporters in Green Bay."He takes his political inspiration from the capitals of Europe," Mr Romney told supporters in Green Bay.
But the three-month-long primary battle has left the Romney campaign looking for new ways to raise money ahead of an anticipated race for November's general election.But the three-month-long primary battle has left the Romney campaign looking for new ways to raise money ahead of an anticipated race for November's general election.
While Mr Romney is well-funded among his Republican rivals, he is already lagging behind Mr Obama.While Mr Romney is well-funded among his Republican rivals, he is already lagging behind Mr Obama.
The Obama campaign had $87m (£54m) as of the end of February, compared with Mr Romney's $7.3m. The Obama campaign has more than 530 paid staff while Mr Romney's has about 100.The Obama campaign had $87m (£54m) as of the end of February, compared with Mr Romney's $7.3m. The Obama campaign has more than 530 paid staff while Mr Romney's has about 100.
Mr Romney and his allies have already spent $53m in advertising during the primary season - almost twice the rest of his Republican rivals combined.Mr Romney and his allies have already spent $53m in advertising during the primary season - almost twice the rest of his Republican rivals combined.
A new Gallup poll suggested Mr Obama was leading Mr Romney slightly in a potential general election match-up, including in key swing states.A new Gallup poll suggested Mr Obama was leading Mr Romney slightly in a potential general election match-up, including in key swing states.