Chicago: White House hopeful Mitt Romney racked up another victory in the plodding Republican nominating with a win in President Barack Obama's home state of Illinois on Tuesday.
Underdog Rick Santorum was unbowed by Mr Romney's widening lead and vowed to take the fight all the way to the Republican convention in August, but it's not clear if he'll be able to stop Mr Romney from winning enough delegates to clinch the deal before then.
US media projected Mr Romney as the clear winner in Illinois shortly after polls closed based on exit polls which showed him with a 10 point lead over Mr Santorum and early vote totals which showed an even larger margin.
The former Massachusetts Governor also has a commanding lead in the all-important delegate count as he seeks to be the Republican contender to take on Democrat Obama in the November 6 vote.
"I wish he was a little more specific (on policy) but anything's better than what we have now."
"The country needs to be run more like a business and he can do that," she said.
"I voted for Romney because I think he's more tolerant than the rest of the Republicans," Florida, 46, said."I want to see two good candidates this fall rather than one bad one."
Republican Party's conservative base in the grueling state-by-state primary race.
Mitt Romney's campaign spent millions flooding the Illinois airwaves with negative ads calling
Rick Santorum an "economic lightweight" and "Washington insider" who has voted against his principles in the past.
Mr Santorum's campaign fought back by painting Mr Romney as a man with "no core principles" who "will say and do anything for votes" and insisted Republicans could only beat
Mr Obama in November if they elect a "true conservative."
Four Republican contenders are fighting to win the 1,144 delegates needed to lock up the nomination, with the winner to be crowned at the party convention in Tampa in August.
Prior to the Illinois vote Mr Romney has pocketed 516 delegates, while Mr Santorum has won 236 and former house speaker Newt Gingrich has 141, according to the website Real Clear Politics.
Texas Congressman Ron Paul, a small-government champion, has about 66.
Rick Santorum's campaign has been urging Gingrich -- who has only won two contests -- to drop out of the race in order to consolidate the conservative vote.
Illinois and Louisiana between them have more than 110 delegates up for grabs, while by the end of April, another 320 or so will have been decided -- many of them in states where the winner takes all.
Should Mr Romney do well in the more liberal East Coast states, as expected, he could well be in an unstoppable position mathematically by the end of next month.
A Rasmussen national poll published on Tuesday gave Mr Obama a five-point lead over Mr Santorum and a one point lead over Mr Romney.
Underdog Rick Santorum was unbowed by Mr Romney's widening lead and vowed to take the fight all the way to the Republican convention in August, but it's not clear if he'll be able to stop Mr Romney from winning enough delegates to clinch the deal before then.
US media projected Mr Romney as the clear winner in Illinois shortly after polls closed based on exit polls which showed him with a 10 point lead over Mr Santorum and early vote totals which showed an even larger margin.
The former Massachusetts Governor also has a commanding lead in the all-important delegate count as he seeks to be the Republican contender to take on Democrat Obama in the November 6 vote.
Advertisement
"I wish he was a little more specific (on policy) but anything's better than what we have now."
Advertisement
"The country needs to be run more like a business and he can do that," she said.
Advertisement
"I voted for Romney because I think he's more tolerant than the rest of the Republicans," Florida, 46, said."I want to see two good candidates this fall rather than one bad one."
Advertisement
Republican Party's conservative base in the grueling state-by-state primary race.
Advertisement
Mitt Romney's campaign spent millions flooding the Illinois airwaves with negative ads calling
Rick Santorum an "economic lightweight" and "Washington insider" who has voted against his principles in the past.
Mr Santorum's campaign fought back by painting Mr Romney as a man with "no core principles" who "will say and do anything for votes" and insisted Republicans could only beat
Mr Obama in November if they elect a "true conservative."
Four Republican contenders are fighting to win the 1,144 delegates needed to lock up the nomination, with the winner to be crowned at the party convention in Tampa in August.
Prior to the Illinois vote Mr Romney has pocketed 516 delegates, while Mr Santorum has won 236 and former house speaker Newt Gingrich has 141, according to the website Real Clear Politics.
Texas Congressman Ron Paul, a small-government champion, has about 66.
Rick Santorum's campaign has been urging Gingrich -- who has only won two contests -- to drop out of the race in order to consolidate the conservative vote.
Illinois and Louisiana between them have more than 110 delegates up for grabs, while by the end of April, another 320 or so will have been decided -- many of them in states where the winner takes all.
Should Mr Romney do well in the more liberal East Coast states, as expected, he could well be in an unstoppable position mathematically by the end of next month.
A Rasmussen national poll published on Tuesday gave Mr Obama a five-point lead over Mr Santorum and a one point lead over Mr Romney.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Meat And Potatoes Guy Who Cooks Indian Food": Usha Vance On Husband Biden Says Could Drop Election Bid If "Medical Condition" Emerged "Assassination Attempt Has Sealed The Election": Trump's Close Aide To NDTV World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Why BJP Lost Lok Sabha Polls In Uttar Pradesh - 6 Reasons In Party Report "Re-Exam Only On Concrete Footing": Supreme Court On NEET-UG Row Nissan X-Trail Unveiled Ahead Of India Launch "Avoid Travel": India Issues Advisory For Nationals In Bangladesh Amid Unrest 'Dark Comets' May Pose Bigger Threat Than Previously Thought To Earth Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.