Super Tuesday: Mitt Romney picks up another win in Idaho
Mitt Romney won the Idaho Republican presidential nominating caucuses, according to The Associated Press.
It added to a strong showing on Super Tuesday for Romney, who also notched wins in Virginia, Vermont and his home state of Massachusetts. He was in a tight battle with former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum in Ohio, the most sought-after state of the night.
Santorum also made a strong showing, winning in Tennessee, Oklahoma and North Dakota.
Each of the four GOP candidates had spent some time campaigning in Idaho, where 32 delegates are at stake.
Idaho was one of three states Rep. Ron Paul of Texas had said he thought he could win. But the state has a large Mormon population, which was expected to work to help Romney, who is Mormon.
John McCain won the state handily in May 2008, getting 70% of the primary vote to Ron Paul’s 24%.
Idaho has not chosen a Democrat for president since 1964, when Lyndon Johnson edged out Barry Goldwater, 51% to 49%. Bill Clinton came within 1 percentage pointof placing third in the state, behind Ross Perot, in the 1992 general election. McCain carried the state 62% to 36% in the 2008 general election.
The state has since shifted to a caucus system, in which caucus participants vote by secret ballot in several elimination rounds until one candidate reaches 50%. Delegates will be awarded proportionally based on the final tallies.
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