Romney takes better than 3-1 lead in GOP delegates

[February 01, 2012]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Mitt Romney's victory in the Florida Republican presidential primary gives him more than three times as many convention delegates as his closest rival, Newt Gingrich.

Romney won all 50 delegates in Florida, giving him a total of 87, including endorsements from Republican National Committee members who will automatically attend the convention. Gingrich has 26 delegates, Rick Santorum has 14 and Ron Paul has four.

The race for delegates is still in the early stages. It takes 1,144 delegates to win the nomination.

Next up: Nevada, which has 28 delegates at stake in it caucuses on Saturday. Nevada Republicans award delegates proportionally, making it impossible for any candidate to win them all.

[Associated Press; BY STEPHEN OHLEMACHER]

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