State: Minnesota
Type of election: Caucus
How it works: Caucus begins at 7 p.m. It is non-binding and the delegates selected tonight will advance to district or county conventions, which in turn elect state delegates, which then choose national delegates. To participate "attendees must be eligible to vote in the next general election, live in the precinct, and be in general agreement with the principles of the political party." In the end, 40 delegates will be chosen.
Official election results: Minnesota Secretary of State
Republican candidates: Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum (all others have dropped out or are polling at less than 1 percent)
Democratic candidates: Barack Obama
Previous performance: In 2008, Romney won the caucus with 41 percent of the vote. Paul finished fourth with 16 percent. Obama won the Democratic caucus with 66 percent of the vote.
Newspapers: Duluth News-Tribune, Minn Post, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Star Tribune, full list
Television stations: Full list
Progressive blogs: Bluestem Prairie, Minnesota Independent, Minnesota Progressive Project, MNPublius, Truth Surfer
Latest polling: Polling for today's contests has been sparse:
Bottom line: Sparse polling makes this one a bit of a toss-up, but it seems likely that Santorum will stay alive after today and Gingrich could be hurt if he finishes last. A Romney victory could help him appear much stronger and help move him towards the nomination quicker.
State: Missouri
Type of election: Primary
How it works: The primary does not count for delegates toward the Republican convention. The Missouri Republican Party will hold a caucus on March 17th, 2012, which will determine the delegates sent to the convention. In the end, 52 delegates will be chosen.
Official election results: Missouri Secretary of State
Republican candidates: Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. Newt Gingrich is not on the ballot. (All others have dropped out or are polling at less than 1 percent)
Democratic candidates: Barack Obama
Previous performance: In 2008, Romney finished third with 29 percent. Paul finished fourth with 4.5 percent. Obama won with 49 percent.
Newspapers: Kansas City Star, St. Louis Post-Dispatch,
, full list
Television stations: Full list
Progressive blogs: Fired Up Missouri, PoliticMo, Show Me Progress
Latest polling: Polling for today's contests has been sparse:
Bottom line: Without Gingrich on the ballot, this one looks to be an easy victory for Santorum as the 'anti-Romney' candidate.
State: Colorado
Type of election: Caucus
How it works: Today's vote is a non-binding straw poll. Delegates will be chosen for county conventions similar to Minnesota. In the end, 36 delegates will be chosen.
Official election results: Colorado Secretary of State
Republican candidates: Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum (all others have dropped out or are polling at less than 1 percent)
Democratic candidates: Barack Obama
Previous performance: In 2008, Romney won with 60 percent. Paul finished fourth with 8 percent. Obama won the Democratic caucus with 67 percent.
Newspapers: Denver Post, full list
Television stations: Full list
Progressive blogs: ColoradoPols, Square State
Latest polling: Polling for today's contests has been sparse:
Bottom line: Romney's up big in the one poll here, and anything less than a victory in this one could signal some trouble for him.
