Super Tuesday | featured news

Here are three safe bets on Virginia's presidential primary on Tuesday: Mitt Romney will win, turnout will be low and a lot of Republicans will be discouraged, which could help President Barack Obama in the battleground state in November.

Super PACs have poured nearly $4 million into advertising in Ohio ahead of Super Tuesday, accounting for most of the spending in what has become an overwhelmingly negative contest.

There are more voters involved and more delegates at stake on Super Tuesday than on any other election day so far this year, but there is a growing recognition that the crucial voting day is unlikely to slow the grinding GOP campaign.

Forty delegates are up for grabs when Washington state holds its Republican presidential caucuses on Saturday, but much more than that -- a quick shot of momentum going into Super Tuesday is also at stake.

The battle for the Republican presidential nomination heads into a potentially decisive phase over the next two weeks with contests in 13 states that could finally answer some of the questions that have defined the race.