By Karen Cross, National Right to Life Committee Political Director
Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum won the February 7 caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota and the non-binding primary in Missouri. With 99% reporting from the Colorado caucuses, Santorum lead with 40%, followed by former Governor Mitt Romney with 35%, former Speaker Newt Gingrich with 13%, and Rep. Ron Paul with 12%. On April 14, the Colorado State Republican Convention will convene to determine the allocation of their delegates.
In Minnesota, with 95% of the caucuses reporting, Santorum lead with 45%, followed by Paul with 27%, Romney with 17%, and Gingrich with 11%. Minnesota’s caucus vote is non-binding. Through a series of conventions ending in the State Convention in May, delegates will be allocated.
With 99% reporting, Missouri’s non-binding primary saw Santorum lead with 55%, followed by Romney with 25%, Paul with 12%, and 4% were uncommitted. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich did not qualify for the Missouri ballot. Next in Missouri, on March 17, the process of electing delegates moves to the county caucuses, then April 21 to the congressional district caucuses, and ends up allocating their delegates at the winner-take-all state convention on June 2.
So what’s next? On February 28, Arizona and Michigan will hold primaries. Arizona’s 29 delegates are pledged in a closed winner-take-all primary. Michigan’s 30 delegates are decided in a proportional primary. Both states hold caucuses and conventions in May.
And on March 6, in a mini-Super Tuesday, eleven states will hold GOP presidential contests: Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming. Texas was originally scheduled for March 6, however, due to a court challenge regarding redistricting, the final outcome has not been determined. Some are suggesting that a presidential primary will be held on March 6, while the congressional and state legislative races will be held sometime in June.
Nearly half of the presidential primaries, caucuses and conventions across the nation will have been held by March 6. Utah’s winner-take-all primary on June 26th will be the last leading up to the Republican National Convention which will be held August 22 through August 30 in Tampa, Florida.
Since all of the Republican candidates are pro-life it is safe to say the GOP will have a pro-life Republican nominee for president of the United States to challenge pro-abortion President Barack Obama.
As you support your preferred candidate, it is important that you don’t bash the other pro-life candidates. It weakens support for the candidate who eventually wins and undermines the very goal of saving countless lives. And, if your candidate does not win the primary, it is crucial that you stay engaged. Bottom line: when pro-life voters stay home, babies die.
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