Voters Choose in MD, WI, and DC

The slog toward an eventual Republican nominee continued today as voters headed to the polls in Wisconsin, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Though Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul remain in the race, the field has effectively narrowed to Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney. Long presumed to be the party’s best choice against President Obama, Romney said in interviews this week that “the right thing for us, I think, is to get a nominee as soon as we can and be able to focus on Barack Obama.” But Santorum, who has led an insurgent campaign that has gained support from the party’s most conservative elements, has not yet called it quits, putting out an ad this week that draws parallels between Mitt Romney’s record and that of the president. Check out the latest exit poll numbers as they come in.

Wisconsin (Polls close at 9 pm EST) 29 percent reporting Romney - 43 percent Santorum - 38 percent Gingrich - 6 percent Paul - 11 percent Maryland (Polls close at 8 pm EST) 27 percent reporting Romney - 47 percent Santorum - 31 percent Gingrich - 11 percent Paul - 9 percent Washington, DC (Polls close at 8 pm EST) 24 percent reporting Romney - 69 percent Gingrich - 11 percent Paul - 13 percent