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Super Tuesday: Republicans in multi-state showdown
Voters in 10 US states are set to pick a Republican presidential candidate, as the rollercoaster race reaches a potentially decisive moment.
Super Tuesday sees contests in Ohio, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Oklahoma, Idaho, North Dakota and Alaska.
Voting has begun in the east, including battleground Ohio, where Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are level-pegging.
The eventual nominee challenges Barack Obama in November’s general election.
Front-runner Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and private equity tycoon, has been riding a wave of momentum after four consecutive poll wins.
‘David and Goliath’
But former Pennsylvania Senator Santorum – who bills himself as the true conservative in the race and a candidate who can win over blue-collar voters – is hoping to halt his rival’s winning streak.
Former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich, making a do-or-die effort to reboot his flagging campaign, has a commanding opinion poll lead in his home state of Georgia.
Texas Congressman Ron Paul, often dismissed as a longshot candidate because of his libertarian-leaning views, hopes to notch up his first wins in Alaska and North Dakota’s caucuses.
Rust-belt Ohio, a crucial swing state, is rated as Tuesday’s most coveted prize as no Republican nominee has ever become president without winning it.
“I hope that I get the support of people here in Ohio tomorrow, and in other states across the country,” said Mr Romney on the eve of the poll. “I believe if I do, I’ll get the nomination.”
His well-funded political machine has far outspent Mr Santorum in Ohio, chopping down his double-digit opinion poll lead in the Midwestern bellwether state.
“To suggest this is David and Goliath is probably an understatement,” Mr Santorum told reporters on Monday.
A devout Catholic who opposes abortion and gay marriage, he has sought to exploit lingering doubts among some conservatives about Mr Romney, a Mormon who governed in a liberal state.
As well as Ohio, Mr Santorum is also hoping for victories in Oklahoma and Tennessee, although polls show Mr Romney gaining on him in the latter state.
Mr Romney is seen as the favourite in Virginia’s primary – where Mr Santorum and Mr Gingrich failed to qualify for the ballot – and as the all but certain victor in his political heartland of Massachusetts.
He is also expected to win in Idaho, a state with a large Mormon population, and Vermont.
Mr Romney has picked up several coveted endorsements in recent days, including Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, former attorney general John Ashcroft and Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn.
Out of the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the Republican presidential nomination at the party convention in August, more than 400 are at stake in Tuesday’s contests.
Ahead of the 10-state voting marathon, Mr Romney had a solid lead with 203 delegates, compared with 92 for Mr Santorum, 33 for Mr Gingrich 33 and 25 for Mr Paul, according to the Associated Press.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17267668
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