Romney Leads Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV Poll Ahead of Illinois March 20 GOP Primary: Romney 35%, Santorum 31%, Gingrich 12% & Paul 7%

According to a recent Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll, Mitt Romney lead the field in the GOP race for the state of Illinois. Once again it appears to be a two man race with Romney capturing 35% of the vote and Santorum 31%. Gingrich and Paul are a distant third and fourth place. However, 16% of the vote is undecided and 46% of those polled stated that they could change their mind between now and the March 20th primary.

Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney’s campaign has long considered Illinois to be in its win column, but a new Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows the candidate has some work to do to make that a reality.

The survey found Romney slightly ahead of Rick Santorum, 35 percent to 31 percent — within the poll’s 4-percentage-point margin of error. Trailing far behind were Newt Gingrich with 12 percent and Texas Rep. Ron Paul with 7 percent. Another 16 percent were undecided.

Much of the undecided vote might change following the Alabama and Mississippi primaries and depending how strong a showing that Romney does in the Southern states.

Polls Have Mitt Romney Ahead in Mississippi and Tied in Alabama Ahead of Tuesday’s Primaries

In the days leading to the Tuesday primaries in the deep South in Mississippi and Alabama, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is doing surprising well in the Heart of Dixie. According to the most recent Rasmussen poll in Mississippi its, Romney 35%, Santorum 27%, Gingrich 27%, Paul 6%. Its almost hard to believe that Romney, who has never had a grit in his life, is leading by 8 against the Conservative candidate Santorum and  the so-called Southern candidate Gingrich.

Dead heat in the Heart of Dixie … And in the deep South of Alabama it is a virtual tie between Romney, Gingrich and Santorum. According to Rasmussen its Gingrich 30%, Santorum 29%, Romney 28%, Paul 7%. The “dead heat” in Alabama might be even more eye opening. Although, if Romney makes any more ignorant comments like campaigning in MS and AL is “an away game” he might see a blow out on primary eve. Mitt might want to understand that if he wins the GOP nomination and faces Obama in the general election it is states in the South that will be the “home field” and one’s like Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts will be hostile territory.

A poll by the Center for Leadership and Public Policy at Alabama State University found Mr. Romney with 20.2% support among likely Republican primary voters, virtually tied with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 20.7% of the vote. Former Sen. Rick Santorum was close behind with 16.6% among Republicans in Alabama, which will hold its primary on Tuesday along with Mississippi and Hawaii. Other candidates, including Rep. Ron Paul, received 15.1%. The poll’s error margin is five percentage points.

Many voters — 27.4% — remained undecided. But the poll’s finding was still a notably strong showing for Mr. Romney because the more-conservative, evangelical-heavy South has been considered more hospitable to Messrs. Gingrich and Santorum, who are competing to be recognized as the principal alternative to the Massachusetts Governor. Mr. Romney in a Thursday campaign appearance downplayed expectations in Alabama and Mississippi by comparing the region’s contest to “an away game.’’

Newt Gingrich has stated that he won’t quit GOP presidential race if he loses Tuesday in Mississippi and Alabama. Really Newt, why? You have been mouthing off that Santorum should quit to make it a one on one match up between yourself and Romney. However, Newt has called himself the “Southern” candidate. Sorry, but if you cannot win Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi … you most likely are receiving no Southern comfort.

We shall see what happens next Tuesday.

SUPER TUESDAY GOP PRIMARY/CAUCUS RESULTS … Romney Wins 6, Santorum 3, Gingrich 1 and Paul 0

ITS SUPER TUESDAY AND THE RESULTS ARE COMING IN … WHO WILL BE THE WINNER AT THE EVENINGS END?

The polls have closed in Massachusetts, Vermont and Virginia and they are being called for Mitt Romney. As repoprted at CNN, so far this Super Tuesday evening, Romney has won 3 states, Santorum 2 and Gingrich 1 … Alaska. Idaho, South Dakota and the all important Ohio still to be decided.

UPDATE I: The state of Georgia is being called for Newt Gingrich.

UPDATE II: Oklahoma is being called for Rick Santorum and a surprising early call, Fox News projects Santorum will win the Volunteer state of Tennessee.

UPDATE III: All eyes are on the two man race in Ohio between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. The up to date vote count can be seen HERE.  With 15% of the vote counted in Ohio, Romney has 38% – 67,097 votes and Santorum has 38% – 65,996.

UPDATE IV: FOX News projects that Romney will win the Idaho Caucus.

UPDATE V: Ohio Primary – Romney starting to pull away in OH.

• 86% of the vote counted: Romney 390,810 and Santorum 388,973.

UPDATE VI: Imagine this, to the total amazement to no one, except Barack Obama and the liberal MSM, the Super Tuesday exits polls show that the economy and gas prices were the top issues. How could that be? As stated by Jammie Wearing Fool, you mean the top issue was not contraception and Rush Limbaugh?

Gas prices and the economy were the top issues on the minds of voters on Super Tuesday, according to exit polls.

Seven in 10 voters in the seven Super Tuesday states that hold primaries said the price of gas was an important topic in deciding who to vote for in the GOP presidential primary, according to CBS News. Southern states seemed to care most about gas prices: in Georgia, 81 percent said it was the top issue in deciding, while in Oklahoma, 79 percent said it was the most important. In Tennessee, 77 percent it was important.

The Associated Press found that the economy was also a top issue influencing voters as they went to the polls.

UPDATE VII: Mitt Romney wins Ohio by about 12.000 votes.

GOP Presidential Primary: Mitt Romney Wins Washington State Caucuses

WASHINGTON STATE CAUCUS …

With 58% of the reporting, Mitt Romney leads with 36.3%, Ron Paul is in second with 24.6% , Rick Santorum is in third 24.5% with and Newt Gingrich is in fourth with 11.3%. CNN has projects the Washington state caucus for Mitt Romney.

CBS News has also called the race for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

With 3,866 of 6,785 precincts counted so far, Romney has 36 percent of the vote. Rep. Ron Paul and former Senator Rick Santorum are in a close race for second and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is a distance fourth.

The state has 40 delegates at stake, but the caucus votes are technically non-binding. CBS News estimates the potential delegate breakdown based on results from the caucus process. Today’s caucuses are the start of a process in the state to award delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

Caucus result totals can be seen at the the Washington State Republican Party’s Precinct Caucus website.

It would appear Romney has cruises to a rather easy victory in Washington state and has the momentum heading into Super Tuesday with five wins in a row; tonight’s  Washington state caucus win and  the recent victories in the Maine Caucus, Wyoming and  victories in Arizona and Michigan.

President Barack Obama Trails 3 of 4 Republican Candidates (Romney, Santorum & Paul) in Head to Head Match-ups in Iowa

Even after GOP candidates have savaged each other in the Republican primary … President Barack Obama still trails three of four candidates in head to head match up.

A new poll from the Des Moines Register shows that President Barack Obama trails three of the four GOP primary candidates in a hypothetical match up in the key swing state of Iowa. Romney leads Obama 46% to 44%, Santorum leads Obama 48% to 44% and Paul has the largest edge over Obama of 49% to 42%. Newt Gingrich is the only GOP candidate who trails Obama. This is troubling news for Obama and his reelections minions for the 2012 reelection. Barack Obama won Iowa in 2008 over John McCain 54% to 45%.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads Obama by 46 percent support to 44 percent among likely Hawkeye state voters in the latest Iowa poll. The survey shows Rick Santorum, winner of the state’s 2012 caucuses, besting Obama 48 percent to 44 percent.  Texas Rep. Ron Paul has the biggest edge over the president leading him 49 percent to 42 percent.

Only former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) loses to Obama in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup. Obama receives 51 percent support to Gingrich’s 37 percent.

Full poll results can be seen HERE.

The Iowa poll also showed that 48% disapproved of the job that Obama was doing while 46% approved. Obama can hardly withstand a loss in a swing- state like Iowa, one that he easily won in 2008.