LITTLE ROCK — Mitt Romney won the Kentucky Republican presidential primary Tuesday, inching closer to the GOP nomination he is expected to win.
With no serious opposition left, the former Massachusetts governor easily won the contest, claiming all 42 delegates at stake in Kentucky. Voters also went to polls in Arkansas, with 33 delegates at stake in the state.
With 3,629 of 3,634 precincts reporting, the unofficial Kentucky results were:
Romney. . . . . . . . . . . . . .117,396 Ron Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,044 Rick Santorum . . . . . . . 15,654 Newt Gingrich . . . . . . . 10,445 Uncommitted . . . . . . . .10,340
Virtually assured of the party nod, Romney has been in general-election mode for weeks.
He’s been spending much of his time raising funds and focusing on Democratic President Barack Obama.
Obama faced no opposition Tuesday in Kentucky.
With 3,629 of 3,634 precincts reporting, the unofficial results were:
Obama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119,277 Uncommitted . . . . . . . .86,857
Romney has 1,055 delegates, leaving him just 89 shy of the 1,144 delegates needed to win the GOP nomination for president. If he continues to dominate, he could reach the magic number next week when voters in Texas go to the polls.
As voters in Kentucky and Arkansas weighed in, Romney spent Tuesday evening at a fundraising event in New York where his campaign said he raised $5 million. Romney’s campaign has raised about $15 million during a three-day fundraising swing in the New York area.
He is scheduled to make a campaign appearance today in Washington.
Romney had struggled in some previous Southern contests, when Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania, and Gingrich, a former House speaker, were in the race.
With them on the sidelines, Romney displayed solid support in the two states, which he’s expected win in November.
Front Section, Pages 8 on 05/23/2012