Romney hoping for a big leap in delegate race

[March 06, 2012]  COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Mitt Romney hopes to take a big step toward the GOP presidential nomination by increasing his delegate lead over his rivals in voting across 10 states.

Romney is set to hold an Ohio fundraiser and address the American Israel Public Affairs Committee annual meeting via satellite before heading to Boston to wait for returns from Super Tuesday contests.

The former Massachusetts governor spent Monday campaigning across Ohio, where he's running neck-and-neck with Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator. Polls show the two locked in a dead heat in that state.

Voters will cast ballots in nine other states, including Tennessee, which is also a close race, and Georgia, which Newt Gingrich represented in Congress. Romney expects to do well in Massachusetts, his home state, as well as in Vermont and Idaho.

Romney was confident as he spoke to Ohio voters Monday, saying that earning significant support on Super Tuesday would allow him to "start organizing our effort to make sure that we replace President Obama."

Romney's team was urging Republican elders to jump on board the campaign, arguing that Romney is the only one with the focus, discipline and organization to defeat Obama in the fall.

[Associated Press; By KASIE HUNT]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.