Romney Wins E.G. And R.I., Closes In On Nomination

Mitt Romney continued his march toward a showdown with President Barack Obama, winning Rhode Island's primary Tuesday with 63 percent of the vote.

Locally, Romney won in East Greenwich with 65 percent, or 326 votes. He defeated Ron Paul, his closest challenger, who received 15 percent, or 76 votes. Sen. Rick Santorum, who withdrew from the race two weeks ago, captured 3 percent, or 18 votes. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich checked in with 2 percent, or 12 votes. Buddy Romner got 2 votes and there was one vote for "uncommitted."

On the Democratic side, President Barack Obama, who was running unopposed, got 55 votes.

Turnout was light, said poll workers at Swift Community Center Tuesday afternoon.

At East Greenwich High School, the other polling site in town, Janeen Davis said she always votes.

"I think that every vote counts," Davis said. "I am not going to sit by and let everyone else make the decision for me."

She said her first pick had been Santorum. "I reluctantly am voting for Mitt Romney. I don't feel comfortable with that.... He's not a conservative. I'm not feeling it. I'm not feeling it in my gut."

For EG voter Bruce Campbell it comes down to one thing: "We've got to get that guy out of there," he said about Obama. While he voted for Gingrich in the primary, Campbell said he'd vote for "whoever the Republican is."

There were 200 total delegates at stake in Tuesday’s votes in Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. With most numbers in, Romney appeared headed for a sweep nationally, taking Delaware with 57 percent of the vote, Connecticut with 67 percent, Pennsylvania with 60 percent. Romney was leading New York with only 7 percent reporting as of late Tuesday night.

Going into Tuesday, Romney held 698 total delegates, leading Santorum by more than 400, according to the New York Times delegate tally. He needs 1,144 to clinch the Republican nomination.

For more election results, go to the R.I. Secretary of State's website. For information about specific EG delegate candidates, check back here Wednesday.