Voters Expected to Give Romney Delegate Win
Mitt Romney could cross -- or be close to crossing -- the 1,144-delegate threshold to become the Republican presidential nominee Tuesday when Texans vote in their party primaries.
Romney has 997 of the 1,144 delegates needed after primaries in Arkansas and Kentucky last week. Texas has 155 delegates awarded proportionally by district and statewide.
However, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, has said he would actively work state party conventions instead of the campaign trail, and has succeeded in picking up delegates and installing supporters as leaders along the way.
The Texas primary typically is in March, but a battle over redistricting pushed it to Tuesday, well after many other states cast ballots in their presidential primaries.
And a possible runoff in July looms if no one in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate polls a majority. A recent University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll indicated Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst held a single-digit lead over former Solicitor General Ted Cruz, a Tea Party favorite.
The poll indicated former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert had 17 percent, broadcaster and former football player Craig James had 4 percent and the remaining five GOP candidates brought up the rear in vying to be the candidate tasked with keeping the seat of retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Republican column.
