Gingrich to win Georgia, CBS News projects
March 6, 2012 7:00 PM PrintText
Gingrich to win Georgia, CBS News projects
By Lucy Madison Topics Campaign 2012 .Add Comment
As results trickle in across the country for tonight's Super Tuesday nominating contests, CBS News projects presidential candidate Newt Gingrich will win the Republican primary in his home state of Georgia, clinching the former House Speaker's first primary victory since South Carolina's January 21 primary contest.
Mitt Romney is currently leading in Virginia and Vermont, CBS News projects.
With voters in ten states selecting their choice to be the Republican presidential nominee and 419 delegates up for grabs, Super Tuesday could be a make-or-break night for more than one of the four remaining Republican presidential candidates.
According to early exit polls, the economy is the top issue for voters in the primary states today, while the ability to defeat President Obama is candidate the quality that matters most to voters. More than a quarter of voters made up their minds in the last few days.
In Georgia, which he represented in Congress for 20 years, early exit polls showed Gingrich winning among men, women, and white evangelical voters. He also led among very conservative voters and those who said the economy was their top issue.
Gingrich's victory in Georgia could give the candidate a much-needed boost in momentum after a string of losses in recent nominating contests.
In Virginia, Romney performed well among most demographic groups, including men, women and conservatives.
Both Gingrich and Rick Santorum could have posed a threat for Romney in Virginia, but both candidates failed to get on the ballot - leaving voters to choose between just Romney and Ron Paul.
Exit polls show Romney performing well in most demographic groups in Vermont, where he enjoys an advantage due to the state's proximity to Massachusetts, where he served as governor.
The ten states in play Tuesday are Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia, Oklahoma, Virginia, North Dakota, Alaska, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Idaho.
All ten states are awarding their delegates proportionately - allocating them based on the outcome in congressional districts, a candidate's percentage of the statewide vote, or a combination of the two (as in Ohio). The lack of "winner take all" contests makes it almost impossible for the remaining GOP presidential hopefuls to accrue enough of the 419 delegates at stake Tuesday to create an aura of true inevitability around their candidacy.
Gingrich to win Georgia, CBS News projects - Political Hotsheet - CBS News