Romney wins Virginia primary - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Mitt Romney beat Ron Paul in the Virginia primary, as expected by experts in the two-man race.

NBC News also projected Romney won the Vermont and Massachusetts primaries, Rick Santorum won the Tennessee and Oklahoma primaries, as well as the North Dakota caucus, and Newt Gingrich won the Georgia primary. However, Ohio was too close to call and Oklahoma and Tennessee were too early to call.

NBC News took just 15 minutes to make project Romney as the winner Tuesday in Virginia with poor turnout statewide. Only two candidates, Romney and Paul, made the ballot. Others failed to gather the required number of signatures due in part to complex rules in the Commonwealth. In the end, less than 6% of voters statewide voted in the primary.

"Tonight, I congratulate Mitt Romney for his victory in the Virginia primary," said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. "Mitt Romney and all of our candidates continue to put forth a vision for America in stark contrast to the failed policies of Barack Obama."

With nearly all precincts reporting Romney beat Paul by just 3 percentage points in Richmond and 6% in Petersburg. However, Romney won by large margins in Henrico and Chesterfield counties.

Here's a breakdown of results by City/County for parts of Central Virginia:

Richmond

Romney - 51.49%

Paul - 48.50%

Henrico County

Romney - 63.89%

Paul - 36.10%

Chesterfield County

Romney - 62.15%

Paul - 37.84%

Petersburg

Romney - 52.92%

Paul - 47.07%

Hanover County

Romney - 57.27%

Paul - 42.72%

For full election results and Decision 2012 coverage click here.

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