Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney has won his party's
primary in Puerto Rico, widening his lead as he seeks to face President
Barack Obama in November's election.
Early results show Romney won more than 80 percent of the vote Sunday,
while his top rival, Rick Santorum, stood a distant second at 8 percent.
Romney is expected to win all 20 delegates at stake in Puerto Rico. They
will be divided if no candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote.
Residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in U.S. general elections.
Romney
and Santorum both made campaign appearances in the U.S. commonwealth
leading up to the voting.
Santorum caused a stir after suggesting Puerto Rico would have to make
English its official language before it could become the 51st U.S.
state. Romney says he supports statehood for Puerto Rico without any
language stipulations.
English and Spanish are the recognized languages on the island.
The Republican campaign now shifts to Illinois, which holds its primary
on Tuesday. Louisiana votes on Saturday.
