Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney continues collecting delegates as he clobbered main rival Rick Santorum in the Puerto Rico GOP primary yesterday, according to the Washington Post.
Romney won the island with 80 percent of the vote and took all 20 delegates. Santorum failed to make it into double digits, and the three other non-pledged delegates will likely go to Romney because of the margin of victory. Santorum finished with 8 percent of the vote. The other two candidates, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, registered with 2 percent and 1 percent of traffic respectively, according to CNN.
"Those people who don't think that Latinos will vote for a Republican need to take a look in Puerto Rico," said Romney. "Hispanic voters are going to vote for Republicans if we stand for something — conservative principles that bring growth and good jobs and rising home values. That's how we're going to win, and we're going to get Latino voters to help us out."
Many wonder why Santorum spent so many days there after his gaffe with the Spanish-speaking residents of Puerto Rico. He said English should be the official language before Puerto Rico gains statehood.
Romney had entered the contest in Puerto Rico as the favorite. He was largely backed by the island government's political establishment, including Gov. Luis Fortuno, who campaigned with Romney last week.
Romney's delegate total is now up to 521. Santorum has 253. With 1,320 or so delegates still to be determined, Romney needs 623 to get to 1,144. That requires that he win about 47 percent of the remaining delegates. Santorum must win more than two-thirds of the remaining delegates to win the nomination.
Read more at the Washington Post.