Romney, Santorum battle for Super Tuesday crown

Boston, Massachusetts : Mitt Romney chased a victory in key Ohio as he pocketed early “Super Tuesday” victories aiming to knock out rival Rick Santorum in the race to be the Republican presidential nominee.

The former governor won a landslide in his home state of Massachusetts, taking 72% of the vote, according
to CNN exit polls, and also scooped wins in Virginia and Vermont in Tuesday’s vote, television networks predicted.

But Santorum, once seen as the rank outsider in his bid for the White House, was snapping at Romney’s heels, winning southern Tennessee and Oklahoma, as 10 states voted.

And in a victory set to re-energize his campaign and keep the topsy-turvy race alive in the weeks ahead, former House speaker Newt Gingrich won handily in his home state of Georgia, according to US media.

The three, as well as Texan congressman Ron Paul, are all fighting for the right to be the Republican standard-bearer to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama in the November elections.

“Thank you Georgia! It is gratifying to win my home state so decisively to launch our March Momentum,” Gingrich tweeted.

According to exit polls, Gingrich had taken 45% of the Georgia vote, compared to 26% for Romney and 20% for Santorum.

But a fierce battle was taking place in Ohio between Romney and Santorum — with the race seen as too tight to call in the bellwether state viewed as a must-win on the road to the White House. Romney was on 39% to Santorum on 36%.

Gingrich on Tuesday dubbed himself a “tortoise” who can beat flashier “bunny rabbits” after his Georgia primary win.

“In the morning, we are going on to Alabama, we are going on to Mississippi, we are going on to Kansas, and that is just this week,” he said.

At a victory party in Steubenville, Ohio, Santorum loyalists cheered as CNN predicted he had won Oklahoma with some 34% to 27% for Romney.

Santorum, 53, a devout Roman Catholic who fiercely opposes abortion and gay marriage, has billed himself as an authentic conservative who understands working-class voters and can beat Obama.

“We have won in the west, midwest, south and we’re ready to win across this country,” he told rally to ear-splitting cheers from supporters.

But Santorum’s radical views have alienated some, and if he loses Ohio, serious questions will be asked about his electability.

Romney, 64, was hoping to win a majority of the 10 states in play on Tuesday and dispel lingering Republican doubts that he is the best candidate to take on Obama despite his Mormon faith.

Even after Tuesday though there will still be a long way to go in the state-by-state battle ahead of the Republican convention in August when the party’s nominee will be crowned.

In Dublin, Ohio, Mark Kraft — wearing a red, white and blue American flag shirt — said he had found the choice tough.

“At the last minute I did vote for Santorum,” the 51-year-old media monitor said. “It was like (the children’s game) ‘rock-paper-scissors’ in my head.”

Hank McCormick, 65, said he voted for Romney and attacked Obama for failing to deliver as hard-hit states like Ohio struggle to emerge from a painful recession with a stubbornly high unemployment rate of 8.3%.

“I want a businessman in there, someone who understands profit and loss and who can beat the opponent,” he said. “Three and a half years ago, everybody was looking for some change. Now I’m looking for a reverse.”

Andrew Debos, who voted for Gingrich in Tennessee, said: “It’s one of the most important elections of my life because of the direction of the country. I don’t like where it is going.”

“Santorum, I don’t support all his religious stuff,” he added.

Delegates are awarded by each state in the complex Republican Party nominating process, with one candidate needing to reach 1,144 delegates to declare victory. More than 400 delegates are up for grabs on Super Tuesday — nearly 40% of the total needed to secure the nomination.

Before Tuesday, Romney had won contests in eight states, while Santorum has won four. Gingrich, 68, had won just one, South Carolina, while Paul has still to notch up his first win.

In Tuesday’s marathon, Romney was also tipped to win Idaho but faced a strong challenge in Alaska from Paul. North Dakota was also seen as a straight shoot-out between Romney and Santorum.