Mitt Romney moved closer to the Republican nomination to challenge President Barack Obama with a convincing, 12 per centage point win in the heartland State of Illinois, while conservative challenger Rick Santorum looked ahead to this weekend’s primary vote in the perhaps more welcoming Deep South State of Louisiana. Mr. Romney told supporters celebrating his victory on Tuesday night that he was “almost there” in his six-year pursuit of the Republican Presidential nomination. Mr. Romney dropped out of the nominating race in 2008 when he could not overcome Senator John McCain, who lost to Mr. Obama. This year’s Republican primary and caucus contest has been bruising and displays the deep division between the party’s conservative base of voters, who have largely favoured Mr. Santorum, and the party establishment assembled behind Mr. Romney. “Tonight’s win means we are that much closer to securing the nomination, uniting our party, and taking on President Obama,” Mr. Romney wrote in a campaign email sent late Tuesday. The general election is in November, with the Republicans’ national nominating convention in August. Read more: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3024813.ece
