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Romney seeks Wisconsin, Maryland and DC primary wins Romney seeks Wisconsin, Maryland and DC primary wins
(40 minutes 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. President Obama meanwhile criticised Mr Romney, in a sign he increasingly views him as his November election opponent.
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 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 was looking 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. US projections have been placing Mr Romney close to the tipping point where Mr Santorum would be unable to catch him in the race.
'Crushing dreams' But the former Pennsylvania senator does not seem inclined to bow out of the Republican race.
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. Attempting to exploit suspicions among conservatives about Mr Romney's past as governor of liberal Massachusetts, Mr Santorum has unveiled a TV advertisement that shows his rival's face morphing into that of Mr Obama.
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. Mr Romney has all but ignored his Republican rivals to focus his attacks on Democratic President Obama, accusing him on Monday of "crushing dreams" with a big government approach.
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. But Mr Obama hit back on Tuesday with a stinging critique of the budget proposal recently laid out by Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan, a high-profile Romney ally.
Mr Santorum was far behind with 272 delegates, while Newt Gingrich had 135 and Ron Paul 50. Addressing news executives in Washington DC, President Obama said the so-called Ryan budget would cut virtually all discretionary federal spending.
Mr Romney's campaign was given a boost last week in Wisconsin by an endorsement from local congressman and budget committee chairman Paul Ryan. "It's a Trojan horse," President Obama said. "Disguised as deficit reduction plan, it's really an attempt to impose a radical vision on our country. It's nothing but thinly veiled social Darwinism."
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." Then he condemned Mr Romney for backing the budget proposal.
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."
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". "He [Mr Romney] even called it marvellous, which is a word you don't often hear when it comes to describing a budget," President Obama said.
"He takes his political inspiration from the capitals of Europe," Mr Romney told supporters in Green Bay. House budget committee chairman Mr Ryan, a rising star in the Republican Party, has been campaigning in recent days alongside Mr Romney.
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. Mr Ryan said President Obama had "chosen to distort the truth and divide Americans".
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 ahead of an anticipated race for November's general election.
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. A total of 42 delegates are at stake in Wisconsin's winner-takes-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.
href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/153668/Obama-Romney-Among-Registered-Voters-Nationwide.aspx" >A new Gallup poll suggested Mr Obama was leading Mr Romney slightly in a potential general election match-up, including in key swing states. 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 272 delegates, while Newt Gingrich had 135 and Ron Paul 50.
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.