Romney Looks to Increase GOP Lead
Mitt Romney, the front-runner to become the Republican Party's next Presidential nominee, took on Rick Santorum and Ron Paul in Tuesday's Minnesota and Colorado caucuses, hoping to forge a tighter grip on the GOP nomination lead.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich did not actively campaign in either state, choosing to focus on future primaries instead.
Romney won both the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses in 2008 during his first bid for the presidency. Both states have become more conservative in the four years since, however, due to the presence of tea party activists.
There were a total of 70 Republican National Convention Delegates up for grabs between the two states, with Minnesota holding 37 and Colorado possessing 33.It is the highest number of delegates at stake in a single day thus far in the campaign period.
In addition to the two major caucuses, Missouri also held its non-binding primary on Tuesday, meaning that that state will pick its own delegates at caucuses next month.
Rick Santorum campaigned vigorously in the three states, attempting to reestablish momentum that disappeared after a narrow first place finish at last month's Iowa caucuses.
Paul has not won a primary or a caucus to this point.
Romney began Tuesday as the clubhouse leader in terms of delegates, having garnered 101 of the 1,144 needed to secure the Republican nomination. Gingrich is second with 32, followed by Santorum with 17 and Ron Paul with nine.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
