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Mitt Romney clinches nomination in Texas primary Mitt Romney clinches nomination in Texas primary
(about 4 hours later)
  
Mitt Romney has secured his place as the Republican challenger to Barack Obama in November's US presidential election, following a primary in Texas.Mitt Romney has secured his place as the Republican challenger to Barack Obama in November's US presidential election, following a primary in Texas.
Projections show he easily won enough votes to pass the threshold of 1,144 delegates needed for the nomination. Near-complete results show he easily cleared the benchmark of 1,144 delegates to secure the nomination.
Mr Romney said he was "humbled". He is the first Mormon from a major party to contest the presidential election.Mr Romney said he was "humbled". He is the first Mormon from a major party to contest the presidential election.
He is set to be officially anointed as the Republican nominee at the party convention in Florida in late August.He is set to be officially anointed as the Republican nominee at the party convention in Florida in late August.
Mr Romney has been the presumptive nominee for several weeks as his rivals withdrew or suspended campaigning.Mr Romney has been the presumptive nominee for several weeks as his rivals withdrew or suspended campaigning.
With 1,086 delegates secured as he entered the Texas race, Mr Romney only needed 58 to pass the 1,144 mark. href="/news/special/world/us_and_canada/11/republican_primaries/delegate_counter/css/main_304.css?cachebuster=cb0000003" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> href="/news/special/world/us_and_canada/11/republican_primaries/delegate_counter/css/candidates_304.css?cachebuster=cb0000002" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />

Delegate totals

 0 750 1500
  • Mitt Romney
    •
  • Rick Santorum
    •
  • Newt Gingrich
    •
  • Ron Paul
    •
  • 1183
  • 261
  • 135
  • 129
In early returns, Mr Romney had captured more than 70% of the vote. Texas awards 152 delegates proportionally. href="/news/world-us-canada-16291574">See detail of all states won
A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to win
With 1,086 delegates secured as he entered the Texas race, Mr Romney only needed 58 to pass the 1,144 mark. Texas awards 152 delegates proportionally.
In near-complete returns, Mr Romney captured 63% of the vote, according to the Associated Press, more than 10 times as many as his closest rival, Ron Paul.
He will surpass his father, George Romney, a former Michigan governor who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in 1968.He will surpass his father, George Romney, a former Michigan governor who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in 1968.
Opinion polls suggest Mitt Romney is locked in an extremely close race with Mr Obama in November.Opinion polls suggest Mitt Romney is locked in an extremely close race with Mr Obama in November.
Birther rowBirther row
"I am honoured that Americans across the country have given their support to my candidacy and I am humbled to have won enough delegates to become the Republican Party's 2012 presidential nominee," Mr Romney said in statement.
As polls closed, the former Massachusetts governor was attending a fundraiser in Las Vegas with real estate tycoon Donald Trump.
He spent the day campaigning in Colorado and Nevada.
The Obama White House is ready for Mitt Romney. That he is not seen as a man of the people is one vulnerability Mr Obama's team will exploit. So is the way Mr Romney made his millions.The Obama White House is ready for Mitt Romney. That he is not seen as a man of the people is one vulnerability Mr Obama's team will exploit. So is the way Mr Romney made his millions.
The Obama team also wants to promote the image of its Republican rival as very right wing. Not simply conservative but old-fashioned. The out-of-touch old guy who would bring back the past.The Obama team also wants to promote the image of its Republican rival as very right wing. Not simply conservative but old-fashioned. The out-of-touch old guy who would bring back the past.
Romney has, so far, failed to inspire. He doesn't have "it" - he is not a candidate bathed in charisma. Yet every time I watch Mr Romney he seems a little sharper. Perhaps the harsh primary has honed him, sharpened the steel. But there is work for his team. They have decided what they are against, but not quite what their man is for.Romney has, so far, failed to inspire. He doesn't have "it" - he is not a candidate bathed in charisma. Yet every time I watch Mr Romney he seems a little sharper. Perhaps the harsh primary has honed him, sharpened the steel. But there is work for his team. They have decided what they are against, but not quite what their man is for.
"I am honoured that Americans across the country have given their support to my candidacy and I am humbled to have won enough delegates to become the Republican Party's 2012 presidential nominee," Mr Romney said in statement.
As polls closed, the former Massachusetts governor was attending a fundraiser in Las Vegas with real estate tycoon Donald Trump.
He spent the day campaigning in Colorado and Nevada.
Ahead of Tuesday's private fundraiser, the Obama campaign released a video focusing on Mr Trump's comments falsely alleging that the president was born in Kenya.Ahead of Tuesday's private fundraiser, the Obama campaign released a video focusing on Mr Trump's comments falsely alleging that the president was born in Kenya.
The video seeks to draw a contrast between Mr Romney and Senator John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee, who once corrected a woman after she called Mr Obama a Muslim.The video seeks to draw a contrast between Mr Romney and Senator John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee, who once corrected a woman after she called Mr Obama a Muslim.
"Why won't Mitt Romney do the same?" asks the clip."Why won't Mitt Romney do the same?" asks the clip.
On Monday, Mr Romney stopped short of condemning Mr Trump's comments.On Monday, Mr Romney stopped short of condemning Mr Trump's comments.
"I don't agree with all the people who support me. And my guess is they don't all agree with everything I believe in," Mr Romney told reporters."I don't agree with all the people who support me. And my guess is they don't all agree with everything I believe in," Mr Romney told reporters.
The Obama campaign video against Mr Trump is the latest in a series of attack ads.The Obama campaign video against Mr Trump is the latest in a series of attack ads.
On Monday, the Romney campaign released an attack ad criticising Mr Obama over a federal loan to a solar panel maker which later went bankrupt.On Monday, the Romney campaign released an attack ad criticising Mr Obama over a federal loan to a solar panel maker which later went bankrupt.
On Tuesday Mr Romney also met casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson, who gave millions to supporters of Newt Gingrich's campaign during the primary season.On Tuesday Mr Romney also met casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson, who gave millions to supporters of Newt Gingrich's campaign during the primary season.
Experts say the outcome of November's election could depend on what happens in a handful of battleground states, including Colorado and Nevada, as the candidates vie for the support of independent voters.Experts say the outcome of November's election could depend on what happens in a handful of battleground states, including Colorado and Nevada, as the candidates vie for the support of independent voters.
The next question of the campaign is who Mr Romney will pick as his vice-presidential running mate.The next question of the campaign is who Mr Romney will pick as his vice-presidential running mate.