Romney favored today

ASTON, Pa. – Mitt Romney is expected to win all five Republican presidential primaries today, but Pennsylvania and Connecticut will be watched closely for signs that he could headed for trouble in those states in November.

A weaker-than-expected showing in Pennsylvania against Rick Santorum, who represented the state in the U.S. Senate from 1995 to 2007, would raise fresh questions about Romney’s appeal in a general-election swing state.

Connecticut also will offer some clues about Romney’s November prospects there. The state shares a long border with Massachusetts, where Romney was the governor from 2003 to 2007, and it has a history of embracing GOP moderates. Romney should win it big, but a very low turnout – and lack of enthusiasm – could signal more trouble.

In addition to Pennsylvania and Connecticut, New York, Delaware and Rhode Island are expected to help Romney move closer today to the 1,144 Republican National Convention delegates he needs to clinch the nomination. He has 697 delegates, according to the Associated Press tally, with 231 at stake today.