Romney and Santorum Split “Super Tuesday” Primaries
Wednesday, March 7th, 2012March 7, 2012
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won 5 of the 10 “Super Tuesday” state primary contests in his bid for the Republican nomination for president of the United States. As expected, he handily took his home state of Massachusetts, as well as Alaska, Idaho, Vermont, and Virginia. He also took the swing state of Ohio, but just barely–with 38 percent of the vote, compared with former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum’s 37 percent. Santorum won in North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich took his home state of Georgia, essentially putting himself back in the race.
![Mitt Romney](http://www.worldbookonline.com/contents/common-content/wbe-content/pc/lg/pc325784.gif)
Mitt Romney Abby Brack, Romney for President, Inc.
Of the delegates up for grabs in the 10 races, Romney captured 211, compared with Santorum’s 84. Romney now leads with 415 delegates committed to backing him at the Republican national convention in Tampa, Florida, in August. He needs 1,144 delegates to win the nomination and go on to challenge President Barack Obama in November. A Washington Post/ABC News poll shows only 35 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of Romney, compared with 32 percent for Rick Santorum and Representative Ron Paul and 23 percent for Newt Gingrich.
![Rick Santorum](http://www.worldbookonline.com/contents/common-content/wbe-content/pc/lg/pc313186.gif)
Rick Santorum U.S. Senate