Despite running without much opposition in the Republican Primary in Virginia, Mitt Romney received just 60.5 percent of the total votes, according to the Washington Post.
Ninety-four percent of precincts have reported as of 9:20 p.m., and they are naming Romney as the victor, who will earn all 46 of Virginia’s all-or-nothing delegates come the Republican National Convention.
Romney beat opponent Ron Paul of Texas. However, his other two rivals, the social conservative Rick Santorium of Pennsylvania and the Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, were absent from the ballot, after failing to meet state requirements of 10,000 qualifying signatures by the deadline.
The Virginia primaries were open to all voters regardless of party affiliations. According to WSLS 10 in Roanoke, preliminary results of an exit poll showed that Ron Paul fared best among moderates and independent voters.
Romney received the support of 60 percent of conservative voters, including born-again or evangelical Christians, a group generally won by Santorium. Another 60 percent also said they support the Tea Party.
However, one-third of voters said they would have voted differently, if more of the Republican candidates were featured on the ballots with Santorum receiving slightly more support than Gingrich.
Overall voter turnout was low, which analysts attribute to lack of choices on the ballot.
Bristow residents, couple Steve and Jennifer, reported voting for Mitt Romney in Tuesday’s Virginia Primary.
Jennifer said she thought the other two candidates should have been on the ballot, but husband, Steve, disagreed.
“The rules for the primaries were established a long time ago. All the candidates’ organizers should have known that. That was big deal 6-7 weeks ago.”
The couple said they probably would not have voted differently, had they the option. Steve said he liked Romney for his, “overall electability.”
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