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    March 18, 2012

Puerto Rico Republicans Vote in US Presidential Primary

   VOA News
   A man wears a shirt in support of Puerto Rican statehood before a
   campaign stop by Republican presidential candidate, former
   Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney on Saturday, March 17, 2012, in
   Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
   Photo: AP
   A man wears a shirt in support of Puerto Rican statehood before a
   campaign stop by Republican presidential candidate, former
   Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney on Saturday, March 17, 2012, in
   Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

   Republicans in Puerto Rico are casting presidential primary ballots
   Sunday.
   Candidates seeking to challenge President Barack Obama in November are
   vying for the support of 20 delegates from the U.S. commonwealth.
   The delegates will be divided if no candidate gets more than 50 percent
   of the vote.
   The frontrunner, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, and former
   senator Rick Santorum, both made brief campaign appearances on the
   island this week.
   Santorum caused a stir after suggesting Puerto Rico would have to make
   English its official language before it could become the 51st US state.
   Romney say he supports statehood for Puerto Rico without any language
   stipulations. Both English and Spanish are recognized languages in
   Puerto Rico.
   The Republican campaign focus next shifts to Illinois, which holds it
   primary Tuesday, and Louisiana, which votes next Saturday.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
   

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