Romney romps to win in Puerto Rico primary

Mar 19, 2012 |

San Juan (Puerto Rico)

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Mitt Romney scored a resounding win in Sunday's primary race in Puerto Rico to pick a Republican nominee to take on President Barack Obama in November's election.

With the final tally in late Sunday, the former Massachusetts governor had more than 83.4 per cent of the vote, according to the State Elections Commission, or CEEPR, in the US territory.

His chief rival, Rick Santorum, stood a distant second with 7.7 per cent. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich had two per cent, just ahead of Representative Ron Paul's 1.1 per cent.

The US commonwealth in the Caribbean has only 20 delegates at stake for the Republican National Convention in August but has been courted vigorously by contenders in part because the broader US Hispanic vote is seen as crucial to the election outcome.

The primary came just two days before a major battle in Illinois, where 54 delegates are at stake and polls show Romney and Santorum in a tight race.

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