by Karen Cross, National Right to Life Political Director
Three states and American Samoa held presidential nominating contests on Tuesday: Alabama, Hawaii, and Mississippi.
With 99% of the vote reported in Alabama, Rick Santorum won with 35%, followed by Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney virtually tied with 29%. Rep. Ron Paul finished with 5%.
With 99% reporting, the results in Mississippi almost mirrors Alabama. Rick Santorum finished first with 33%, followed by Newt Gingrich with 31%, Mitt Romney with 30%, and Ron Paul with 4% of the vote.
By carrying 45% of the vote in Hawaii’s precinct caucuses, Mitt Romney was awarded eight delegates. Rick Santorum received three delegates with 25%, Ron Paul one delegate with 18%, and Newt Gingrich received 11% but no delegates.
Romney won the American Samoa GOP caucuses with nine delegates at stake.
According to Fox News, the delegate count to date is:
Romney – 495
Santorum – 252
Gingrich – 131
Paul – 48
Incumbents Held Off Challenges in Alabama’s Congressional Primary
In Alabama’s fifth congressional district primary, pro-life Rep. Mo Brooks soundly prevailed in a challenge brought by former pro-life Rep. Parker Griffith. The tally was 72% to 28%.
In the sixth congressional district, pro-life Rep. Spencer Bachus avoided a runoff by garnering 58% of the vote in his primary.
Remaining Presidential Primaries, Caucuses and Congressional Contests in March
Next week Illinois will hold its presidential and congressional contests on March 20. A March 9, 2012, Chicago Tribune poll has Mitt Romney with 35%, Rick Santorum with 31%, Newt Gingrich at 12%, and Ron Paul at 7%.
Illinois lost one congressional district due to changes brought about by the 2010 census. Redistricting pits pro-life Rep. Don Manzullo (R) versus pro-life Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R) in a member-versus- member race in the 16th congressional district.
On March 17, Missouri will hold their non-binding presidential caucuses, and on March 18, a winner-take-all caucus will have presidential candidates vying for 23 delegates in Puerto Rico.
Louisiana will close out March with a presidential primary on March 24, with 46 delegates at stake.
By the end of March, twenty-nine states and three territories will have held their presidential contests, or will have begun the nominating processes in their caucuses. The remaining twenty-one states and the District of Columbia will hold their contests in the interim, with the final contest in Utah on June 26.