GOP caucuses: Paul leads Pend Oreille, Ferry; Santorum leads Lincoln
Eastern Washington appears split on its favorite for the Republican nominee to take on Barack Obama in the fall.
In early returns from a straw poll of people attending the GOP precinct caucuses, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul is leading in Asotin, Pend Oreille and Ferry counties, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum in Lincoln and Columbia counties, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in Adams and Garfield counties.
Statewide, Romney holds a slim lead with 1,272 votes or about 31 percent of those counted; Paul is second with 1,116 votes or 27 percent and Santorum third with 991 or 24 percent. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich is a distant fourth, with 556 votes or 13.5 percent.
