This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-17267668
The article has changed 96 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
Next version
Version 11 | Version 12 |
---|---|
Super Tuesday: Republican showdowns in 10 US states | Super Tuesday: Republican showdowns in 10 US states |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Voters in 10 US states are choosing a Republican presidential candidate, as the rollercoaster race reaches a potentially decisive moment. | Voters in 10 US states are choosing 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. | Super Tuesday sees contests in Ohio, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Oklahoma, Idaho, North Dakota and Alaska. |
Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum have been on level-pegging in the key battleground state of Ohio. | |
The eventual nominee will challenge Barack Obama in November's 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. | Front-runner Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and private equity tycoon, has been riding a wave of momentum after four consecutive poll wins. |
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. | 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. | 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. |
"For the third time, we're going to come bouncing back," Mr Gingrich told a crowd in Alabama. | |
"With your help by the end of next week, we could really be in a totally new race." | |
Texas Congressman Ron Paul, widely 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. | |
"We're going to do well and that will excite us going forward," Mr Paul told about 500 people at a rally in Idaho. | |
"I think it's a super-good opportunity for us to get votes and a chance to win the states." | |
Romney's 'renewed questions' | |
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 the state in the general election. | 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 the state in the general election. |
The BBC's North America editor, Mark Mardell, says there will be renewed questions asked about Mr Romney's appeal if he fails to win Ohio. | |
Many believe it is inevitable that Mr Romney will eventually be chosen to take on Barack Obama, our correspondent says, but few feel hugely inspired by the former Massachusetts governor. | |
Super Tuesday states | Super Tuesday states |
Pick a state to read about the local primary race | Pick a state to read about the local primary race |
|
|
This whole contest has been driven by the quest of the dominant conservative wing of the party to find somebody who is not Mr Romney, he adds, someone who is a true believer. | This whole contest has been driven by the quest of the dominant conservative wing of the party to find somebody who is not Mr Romney, he adds, someone who is a true believer. |
As the voters gave their verdict, a survey suggested the Republican candidates were viewed unfavourably by swathes of the American electorate. | |
A Washington Post/ABC News poll released on Tuesday showed 35% of Americans looked upon Mr Romney favourably, compared to 32% for Mr Paul, 23% for Mr Gingrich, and 32% for Mr Santorum. | |
The Washington Post called the results "a sobering reminder for the party that the extended primary season has damaged the brand". | The Washington Post called the results "a sobering reminder for the party that the extended primary season has damaged the brand". |
Katherine Frenz, 36, taking her daughter to swimming lessons at the YMCA in Hilliard, Ohio, told the Reuters news agency she was voting for Mr Santorum. | |
"Santorum's values are more like mine - more conservative," she said. "I see Romney as more liberal and not sincere in his beliefs. He doesn't really know what he stands for. Romney and Obama are very similar." | |
Lingering doubts | |
In Georgia, voter Steve Hudson told the BBC that no candidate stood out above the others. | In Georgia, voter Steve Hudson told the BBC that no candidate stood out above the others. |
"There's really nothing we can do about that," he said. "We have the people who are willing to do this job coming forward and you know, we can't force an ideal candidate to emerge." | |
Mr Romney's well-funded political machine has far outspent Mr Santorum in Ohio, chopping down his double-digit opinion poll lead in the Midwestern bellwether state. | |
A devout Catholic who opposes abortion and gay marriage, Mr Santorum 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. | 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. | 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 also has the advantage 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. | 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. |
Well wishes were extended to Mr Romney from an unexpected quarter on Tuesday - during a White House news conference. | |
When asked what he made of Mr Romney branding him America's "most feckless president since Jimmy Carter", Barack Obama paused, smiled, and replied: "Good luck tonight," adding: "No, really". | |
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. | 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 and 25 for Mr Paul, according to the Associated Press. | 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 and 25 for Mr Paul, according to the Associated Press. |
Are you in one of the 10 US states voting today? What do you think of the campaigns so far? Send us your comments and experiences. | Are you in one of the 10 US states voting today? What do you think of the campaigns so far? Send us your comments and experiences. |
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
Next version