Here are ten things you need to know today.
- Romney wins Illinois primary: Mitt Romney won the Illinois primary Tuesday. With almost all the votes counted, Romney had 47%, Rick Santorum took 35%, Ron Paul took 9% and Newt Gingrich got 8%.
- Romney spent $3.6 million on Illinois: Romney’s victory Tuesday wasn’t cheap. The former governor and his allies spent $3.6 million on TV ads in the state, most actually coming from his super PAC. They outspent Santorum and his super PAC by a margin of 7 to 1.
- Santorum advisor says it’s not even halftime yet: Rick Santorum senior advisor John Brabender dismissed concerns over Santorum’s campaign Tuesday. “We’re not even at halftime yet. I think we have to have two more states to get to the half-way point roughly,” Brabender said before the race was officially called for Romney. “And so, you know, we’ll get through tonight.”
- Duckworth wins primary, will face Walsh in the fall: Tammy Duckworth won her primary in Illinois’ 8th district and will face fiery Tea Party Republican Rep. Joe Walsh this fall. Redistricting made the district more Democratic and will help Duckworth in November.
- Progressive favorite Ilya Sheyman loses: Ilya Sheyman, the 25-year-old community organizer progressive groups had rallied around, lost his primary against the more moderate Brad Schneider in Illinois’ 10th district. Progressive groups had pushed Sheyman’s campaign as a top priority in 2012.
- Restore Our Future heads into next primary states: The pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future looks to the next primaries in Wisconsin and Maryland on April 3. The group is adding to its airtime presence in Wisconsin, and a another buy gives Romney a running start in Maryland. From CNN: ROF “bought $456,862 worth of broadcast and cable time [in Maryland] and also purchased $47,395 of additional time in Wisconsin.”
- Gingrich campaign in the red: FEC filings Tuesday showed Newt Gingrich’s campaign struggling to bring in new money. Gingrich talks about going all the way to Tampa, but that will be hard with more debt than cash. In February, Newt’s super PAC was almost entirely funded by his billionaire backer Sheldon Adelson.
- Obama camp weighs in on De Niro joke: “We believe the joke was inappropriate,” Olivia Alair, Campaign Press Secretary to the First Lady, said in a statement. Actor Robert De Niro made a joke at a fundraiser about America being ready for a white First Lady. Newt Gingrich seized on the comment Tuesday and demanded the Obama campaign apologize.
- Santorum campaigns in the South: Santorum returns to more friendly territory than Illinois Wednesday with campaign stops in Louisiana. On Thursdsay, Santorum will give an address in San Antonio, Texas Thursday, then return to Louisiana Friday.
- Gingrich campaigns hard in Louisiana: Newt Gingrich will be in Louisiana campaigning across the state in a big number of events, according to his campaign. The Louisiana primary is Saturday.
