Florida results

100% precincts reported
Mitt Romney
46.4%
771,842 votes
Newt Gingrich
31.9%
531,294 votes
Rick Santorum
13.4%
222,248 votes
Ron Paul
7%
116,776 votes
  • Rick Perry .4%
  • Jon Huntsman .4%
  • Michele Bachmann .2%
  • Herman Cain .2%

Romney surges to victory in Florida

Mitt Romney scored a strong victory -- and 50 delegates -- in the Florida primary tonight, wresting momentum from Newt Gingrich in a campaign that grew increasingly nasty as the vote neared.

TAMPA , FL. 01/ 31/ 2012: CROWD JUST LOVES MITT....Mitt Romney, primary night in Florida.( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION: NATIONAL TOPIC : REPORTER

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff

Mitt Romney smiled to the crowd of supporters during his victory speech tonight.

TAMPA , FL. 01/ 31/ 2012: Mitt Romney and his wife Ann, primary night in Florida.( David L Ryan / Globe Staff Photo ) SECTION: NATIONAL TOPIC : REPORTER

David L. Ryan/Globe Staff

Romney and his wife, Ann, waved to the crowd of supporters.

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 31: People wait to hear from Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney during the Florida primary night party January 31, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. According to early results Romney defeated former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) to win Florida's primary. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The Romney crowd in Tampa waved flags and cheered as they waited for him to speak.

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, cheer as results come in during the Florida primary election Tuesday Jan. 31, 2012, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Chris O'Meara/AP

Romney supporters in Tampa erupted in cheers after their candidate was projected as the winner.

People at the election night headquarters of Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich watch a televison news broadcast that delcared Mitt Romney the winner of the Florida Republican Primary election January 31, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

Gingrich supporters at election night headquarters in Orlando watched as Romney was declared the winner.

Republican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, stands with his son Josh as he watches results for the Florida primary election at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Charles Dharapak/AP

Romney watched the results with his son, Josh, tonight.

A workman mounts a sign to the podium before Republican presidential candidate former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's Florida Republican presidential primary night rally, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Matt Rourke/AP

A campaign worker prepared the podium for Gingrich's primary night rally.

AP

Romney worked the phones at his campaign office in Tampa, Fla., today.

CELEBRATION, FL - JANUARY 31: Republican presidential candidate and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (L) and his wife Callista Gingrich (C) greet supporters and pose for photographs outside a polling place on primary day January 31, 2012 in Celebration, Florida. Polls show Gingrich's fellow candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, with a double-digit lead going into the Florida primary. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista, greeted supporters in Celebration, Fla., today.

Gingrich thanked volunteers during a visit to his Polk County campaign headquarters today in Lakeland, Fla.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Gingrich thanked volunteers during a visit to his Polk County campaign headquarters today in Lakeland, Fla.

Buttons supporting Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich on display outside Fred's Southern Kitchen January 31, 2012 in Plant City, Florida. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

Newt Gingrich campaign buttons were on display outside Fred's Southern Kitchen in Plant City, Fla.

Mitt Romney answered questions from reporters outside his campaign offices today in Tampa, Fla.

Brian Snyder/REUTERS

Mitt Romney answered questions from reporters outside his campaign offices today in Tampa, Fla.

Security guards for Newt Gingrich stood next to a Ron Paul supporter today in Orlando.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Security guards for Newt Gingrich stood next to a Ron Paul supporter today in Orlando.

A voter arrived to cast his ballot in the Florida Republican primary shortly after the polling station opened its doors today in Terra Ceia Island, Fla.

Steve Nesius/REUTERS

A voter arrived to cast his ballot shortly after the polling station opened its doors today in Terra Ceia Island, Fla.

Scot Lehigh

The GOP fight is a long way from being over

A long primary campaign is not a bad thing. The challenge, however, will be in pulling the party back together afterward. The divisiveness this bitter campaign has engendered may prove hard to heal.

Voters lift Romney on electability

Florida voters chose Mitt Romney as the candidate best able to beat President Barack Obama in the fall, preferring electability over ideology.

Romney defends attacks

Mitt Romney defended his use of negative ads against Newt Gingrich, saying “if you attack me, I’m not going to just sit back, I’m going to fight back.”

Poll: Obama, Romney split swing states

A new USA Today/Gallup poll could help Mitt Romney argue that he is the most electable of the four remaining GOP candidates.

Gingrich vows to stay in the GOP race

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said today he expects the race for the GOP nomination to go on for six months, regardless of the outcome in Florida.

Romney paid just 10.7% in 2010 taxes, lawyer estimates

Mitt Romney paid just 10.7 percent of his total gross income in federal income taxes in 2010 -- less than the 13.9 percent tax rate reported last week, according to a Boston tax lawyer who analyzed Romney’s returns.

“Together we will build an America where hope is a new job with a paycheck, not a faded word on an old bumper sticker.”

Mitt Romney,  referring to a 2008 Obama campaign mantra, “Hope.”

Globe Insiders

Globe Insiders Video

http://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/01/31/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Advance/Images/IMG_2882--90x90.jpg The Back Story: Covering the Patriots

Greg Bedard, the Boston Globe’s Patriots reporter, gives us a glimpse inside the minds of our favorite players.

Nation & World

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A Syrian rebel took his position as battled Syrian government forces today.

Syria troops push back rebels as UN fight looms

Syrian troops crushed pockets of rebel soldiers today and the UN Security Council took up a draft resolution demanding that President Bashar Assad yield power.

Sports

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Super Bowl Media Day Notes

01-31-12: Indianapolis, IN: Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was having some fun as he answered questions. The Patriots took part in the annual

Rob Gronkowski out of walking boot

Gronkowski said he was “day by day” as he recovers from an ankle injury, but said shedding the walking boot was a sign of improvement.

Lifestyle

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Allure of scaling Half Dome forces Yosemite to limit access

There was a time not long ago when a climb to the top of Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome was a solitary trek attempted by only the most daring adventurers.