Romney wins in Rhode Island and Connecticut primaries

Romney wins in Rhode Island and Connecticut primaries

Brian Snyder / REUTERS

Updated 8:21 p.m. ET - Mitt Romney won the Connecticut and Rhode Island primaries on Tuesday, putting him on the path toward the general election, and allowing him to tend to unfinished business in the Republican primary.

Facing no meaningful opposition in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, or Rhode Island, the former Massachusetts governor was expected to win the vast majority, if not all, of the 222 delegates up for grabs in his bid to formalize the GOP nomination.


While President Barack Obama went after the college vote Tuesday, presidential candidate Mitt Romney was prepping for another primary night. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.

He started the evening, which was expected to showcase his pivot toward the general election, with wins in two of the five states.In the three weeks since the last slate of primaries in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin, Romney’s principle conservative rival, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, exited the race.

Major Republican figures have begun to rally around Romney and offer their endorsements, and he only faces token opposition from the ongoing campaigns of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

But Romney must still work toward winning the 1,144 delegates needed to formally secure the nomination. According to Associated Press projections, heading into Tuesday's contests, Romney has already secured 698 delegates -- putting him on pace toward crossing the threshold in late May or early June.

NBC Politics - Romney wins in Rhode Island and Connecticut primaries