Campaign '08

NEW YORK (CBS) ― John McCain swept through the winner-take-all tri-state area primaries on Super Tuesday and is poised to slam the door on Republican rivals Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee in the race for the GOP nomination for president.

McCain's 'Straight Talk Express' barreled through New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, winning each state convincingly and taking a total of 180 delegates.

Among his other wins were Arizona, Delaware, Oklahoma and Illinois.

As of 11:55 p.m., McCain had 396 delegates to Romney's 116 and Mike Huckabee's 96, according to CBS News. There were still a few western states to be determined.

McCain didn't really get challenged in New York. With 97 percent of precincts reporting, McCain had 51 percent, compared with Romney's 28 percent. Former Arkansas Gov. Huckabee had 11 percent. 

Moderate Republicans strongly favored McCain in New Jersey as well, as did GOP voters worried about the economy, according to early results of an exit poll conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks.

With about 98 percent of the vote counted, McCain had 56 percent. The Arizona senator picked up all 52 of the Garden State's Republican delegates.

"Tonight the Republican voters of New Jersey have said John McCain is the best candidate to win in November and best able to be a great president on day one," said state Sen. Bill Baroni, McCain's New Jersey campaign chairman.

The race wasn't close in Connecticut either. With 81 percent of votes cast, McCain led Romney 52 percent to 32 percent.

"People in Connecticut like someone who deals straight with them, who just speaks the truth," said U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, state co-chairman of McCain's campaign. "They also like that he'll reach across the aisle ... and get things done. They know he's ready for the first day he'll be commander-in-chief."

The Republican frontrunner began his momentous day at Rockefeller Center, with a rousing introduction from his most important supporter.

"We're gonna win New York for John McCain in November," former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said.

As voters flocked to polling places across the city, Republicans who once supported Giuliani in the presidential race had to make a second choice.

"I originally was a Giuliani supporter and I would've voted for him today if he was still in the race," voter Jill Spiegel said.

The frontrunner is hoping for a huge night across America that can drive rival Romney out of the race. But that's not a foregone conclusion.

"It's all about momentum and the expectations for McCain are very high and anything short of meeting those expectations will suddenly look like a loss for him," said Columbia University professor David Epstein.

The big question is California, by far the biggest delegate prize with 173.

Romney, who had won his home state of Massachusetts and Mormon-heavy Utah, among others, was asked earlier Tuesday if he'd stay in the race if McCain had a big day, which has clearly been the case.

"I will look at the results on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning along with my teams as well as advisors who care very deeply about the country and we will assess, what does this tell us?" Romney said.

Huckabee is also clinging to hope after taking several southern states on Tuesday, including West Virginia, Alabama and Arkansas. 

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)