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| Wisconsin, Maryland and DC polling day - live | Wisconsin, Maryland and DC polling day - live |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 11.10am: Will the Republican nomination be all over after tonight? Maybe – given the latest polling data coming out of Rick Santorum's home state of Pennsylvania. | |
| According to a Quinnipiac University survey released today, Mitt Romney is just six points behind Santorum, with 35% to Santorum's 41%. That's very grim news for Santorum since the last poll by Quinnipiac had Santorum leading 36% to 22%. | |
| If Romney grabs a little momentum after tonight's results, the Pennsylvania primary might not look like winnable for Santorum. In that case: lights out, it's all over. | |
| 11am: Where are the candidates today? According to Newt Gingrich's schedule, he is "in North Carolina". Ron Paul is in Chico, California. So let's guess that means that aren't expecting a shock upset victory anytime tonight. | 11am: Where are the candidates today? According to Newt Gingrich's schedule, he is "in North Carolina". Ron Paul is in Chico, California. So let's guess that means that aren't expecting a shock upset victory anytime tonight. |
| Rick Santorum is in Mars today. Literally. Mars, Pennsylvania, in fact, although most of the time he's orbiting Pluto. | Rick Santorum is in Mars today. Literally. Mars, Pennsylvania, in fact, although most of the time he's orbiting Pluto. |
| Mitt Romney – who will win everything – is actually in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, tonight for his victory romp, whereupon he will ascend into the heavens, borne aloft by cherubs taking the form of Paul Ryan. | Mitt Romney – who will win everything – is actually in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, tonight for his victory romp, whereupon he will ascend into the heavens, borne aloft by cherubs taking the form of Paul Ryan. |
| 10.45am: They say the Republican nomination race is all over ... it is now: | |
| Kiss frontman Gene Simmons appeared on Fox News Channel's Fox & Friends to discuss the 2012 race and President Obama, as well as promote his new chain of restaurants Rock & Brews. On the program, Simmons offered his support for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in his bid to replace President Obama in the White House. | Kiss frontman Gene Simmons appeared on Fox News Channel's Fox & Friends to discuss the 2012 race and President Obama, as well as promote his new chain of restaurants Rock & Brews. On the program, Simmons offered his support for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in his bid to replace President Obama in the White House. |
| Yeah, that's what America really needs: a new chain of restaurants called Rock & Brews. | Yeah, that's what America really needs: a new chain of restaurants called Rock & Brews. |
| 10.30am: It's primary voting day in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia – can you feel the excitement? Possibly you can in Wisconsin, where there's a lot going on. But even there, only the size of Mitt Romney's win is at issue. | |
| Unless Rick Santorum can completely upend the dynamics of the race. But that we won't find out until after the polls close in Wisconsin at 8pm central time (9pm ET; 2am UK time). | Unless Rick Santorum can completely upend the dynamics of the race. But that we won't find out until after the polls close in Wisconsin at 8pm central time (9pm ET; 2am UK time). |
| Here's a brief summary of events from Ryan Devereaux: | Here's a brief summary of events from Ryan Devereaux: |
| • The GOP's remaining candidates are facing off in Wisconsin, Maryland and DC today, with Mitt Romney occupying the front-runner position. Romney currently has 572 Republican National Convention delegates, exactly half of the 1,144 needed to win the nomination. With 95 delegates at stake today, including 42 in Wisconsin, Romney is on track to secure the nomination by the end of the primary season in June. Santorum, who has 272 delegates, is looking best in Wisconsin. | • The GOP's remaining candidates are facing off in Wisconsin, Maryland and DC today, with Mitt Romney occupying the front-runner position. Romney currently has 572 Republican National Convention delegates, exactly half of the 1,144 needed to win the nomination. With 95 delegates at stake today, including 42 in Wisconsin, Romney is on track to secure the nomination by the end of the primary season in June. Santorum, who has 272 delegates, is looking best in Wisconsin. |
| • The Obama administration appears to be treating Romney as if he's already clinched the nomination. The president's campaign has launched a new ad in five swing states that, for the first time, attacks Romney by name. The ad argues that the former Massachusetts governor is in bed with the oil industry. | • The Obama administration appears to be treating Romney as if he's already clinched the nomination. The president's campaign has launched a new ad in five swing states that, for the first time, attacks Romney by name. The ad argues that the former Massachusetts governor is in bed with the oil industry. |
| • Rick Santorum has painted Romney as a candidate whose success in the race so far has been bought. Discussing Romney in Wisconsin, Santorum said: "The only way he's been successful in winning the primaries is by just bludgeoning his opponents by an overwhelming money advantage – something he's not going to have in the general election." There is some truth to Santorum's analysis. By the end of February, the president reported $84.7m in his campaign account while Romney reported $7.3m. In terms of paid help, Obama has more than 5320 staffers, while Romney has roughly 100. | • Rick Santorum has painted Romney as a candidate whose success in the race so far has been bought. Discussing Romney in Wisconsin, Santorum said: "The only way he's been successful in winning the primaries is by just bludgeoning his opponents by an overwhelming money advantage – something he's not going to have in the general election." There is some truth to Santorum's analysis. By the end of February, the president reported $84.7m in his campaign account while Romney reported $7.3m. In terms of paid help, Obama has more than 5320 staffers, while Romney has roughly 100. |
| • President Obama's top advisor, David Axelrod, believes Romney is trapped in a "time warp". Appearing on CBS This Morning, Axelrod said Romney is "oblivious to the experiences of everyday people." Axelrod added, "I think he must watch Mad Men and think it's the evening news. He is just in a time warp." According to excerpts of an upcoming speech the president is going to give, the GOP will be attacked for their "radical" fiscal philosophy, a "Trojan horse" that will lead to economic decline. | • President Obama's top advisor, David Axelrod, believes Romney is trapped in a "time warp". Appearing on CBS This Morning, Axelrod said Romney is "oblivious to the experiences of everyday people." Axelrod added, "I think he must watch Mad Men and think it's the evening news. He is just in a time warp." According to excerpts of an upcoming speech the president is going to give, the GOP will be attacked for their "radical" fiscal philosophy, a "Trojan horse" that will lead to economic decline. |