USA TODAY: Republican front-runner Mitt Romney easily captured the nation’s first primary election Tuesday, while his distant rivals were already aiming at scuttling the budding Romney express before South Carolina‘s Jan. 21 matchup…
With 95% of precincts reporting, the former Massachusetts governor had 39% of the vote, followed by Texas Rep. Ron Paul with 23% and former Utah governor Jon Huntsman with 17%.
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum lagged, each with about 9%. Texas Gov. Rick Perry trailed with less than 1%…. (more)
EDITOR: Romney is seeking the nomination for the 2012 race. Huntsman is generating name recognition, developoing supporters and building an organization to win the nomination in 2016 if Romney loses in the general election.
