[Unidentified Female:] The presidential race has been won by Governor Ronald Reagan of California.
[Unidentified Male:] Governor Clinton is now President Bill Clinton. Too close to call. George W. Bush re-elected. Barack Obama president-elect of the United States.
[Unidentified Male Announcer:] This is CNN.
[Wolf Blitzer, Cnn:] Tonight a new region of the country weighs in on the Republican presidential race.
[Unidentified Male:] Tonight a western warm-up for the biggest event of the Republican presidential campaign.
[Rick Santorum , Presidential Candidate:] Here in Washington State, you can reset the election again heading into Super Tuesday.
[Unidentified Male:] All four candidates trying to tap into a new gold mine of delegates.
[Mitt Romney , Presidential Candidate:] I just need you to go out and vote. You will you do that for me?
[Unidentified Male:] Who will get a shot of momentum heading into the Super Tuesday slug-fest? It's Washington choice. Mitt Romney avoided an embarrassing defeat in Michigan. Now, he and Rick Santorum are taking the grudge match into new territory.
[Romney:] Rick Santorum is a nice guy. But he's not the guy that will fight me.
[Santorum:] I think Governor Romney's MO has just going out and try to savage and beat up on the other opponent and it's wearing thin on my Republican voters.
[Unidentified Male:] Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich are refusing to be ignored.
[Newt Gingrich , Presidential Candidate:] We have a real chance to win next Tuesday.
[Ron Paul , Presidential Candidate:] Still winning a lot of delegates and that's what counts.
[Unidentified Male:] Will an underdog seize the day or will one of the frontrunners chock up a new victory?
[Santorum:] I'm not writing off any state right now.
[Romney:] Your voice is going to be heard.
[Unidentified Male:] The tension is building, the stakes are rising and this is just the start of a frantic sprint to Super Tuesday.
[Blitzer:] I'm Wolf Blitzer. We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. Mitt Romney has the lead of the early results coming in from the Washington caucuses. But it's a very tight race for second between Rick Santorum and the Texas congressman Ron Paul. We're expecting more numbers any moment now. Voters across the state gathered this afternoon. You're looking at a live picture right now, the Republican parties' headquarter where they're busy tabulating the votes and set to announce the totals. Let's take a look at the early numbers, not so early right now, 29 percent of the vote in Washington state and the caucus now in. Mitt Romney with 36 percent, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum are tied for a second, virtually actually, exactly the same 24 percent, Newt Gingrich a distant fourth with 12 percent. Only Ron Paul chose to be in Washington State tonight. He's planning to address his supporters this hour. Our reporters tracking the Republican candidates have been busy all day as well as the Washington state parties headquarters and the caucus sites. Here with me tonight are chief political analyst, Gloria Borger, and our chief national correspondent, John king of CNN's "JOHN KING USA." They're ready to assess and analyze the results. We'll also get perspective from our contributors, Ari Fleischer and Hillary Rosen. Let start out with CNN'S Paul Vercammen. He is over at state Republican Party headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Well, set the scene for us, Paul. What's the latest?
[Paul Vercammen, Cnn Producer:] Well, we just had three more counties trickle in. I'm going to bring in the GOP. This is Kirby Wilbur. And from what I understand, we have 26 now of 39.
[Kirby Wilbur, Washington State Gop Chairman:] 26 of 39.
[Vercammen:] Washington County is reporting we should node the big counties not in yet. Tell us what the last three counties were and what the count is in them.
[Wilbur:] OK. We had Woodman and Calles at and I can't remember the third one that was
[Vercammen:] I believe its Franklin.
[Wilbur:] Franklin. What we have now total. We have Mitt Romney at 36 percent, we have Rick Santorum and Congressman Paul tied to the vote 42.56 percent, and then Newt Gingrich behind at 12 and about 3 percent undecided or other. And we are our record attendance, we have got 17,100 votes in already and these are the smaller counties. We had a total of 14,000 people, roughly 14,000 in 2008. So we've got record attendance without counting the big counties. I think this shows a high level of enthusiasm and excitement and it also shows how important the straw poll has been. We moved it before Super Tuesday to get the excitement going. We've had incredible press. The candidates have visited for the first time ever. The candidates have been out here and it shows off with this turnout. This is incredible for us.
[Vercammen:] Characterize this for us though. If I'm not mistakes, Paul and Santorum, do better in the rural counties and perhaps the numbers aren't as great as they would have liked.
[Wilbur:] I think that's probably true. And in the big counties, I mean, Ron Paul has his pockets of strength in King County. We know, so, that come advantage of him. Also, Spokane County has been known as Ron Paul country. So, those should help him. Rick Santorum really didn't have much of an infrastructure here. But he did visit this folks here and tries cities. And there are still a couple of counties and inherit to turn in. So, they should do better or they should do hope to do better at least. But I tell you, Mitt Romney I think is showing surprising strength in the outside areas. We thought he would do well in the population centers, but he's shown pretty well outside. So, we'll wait to see. But, he has a pretty solid lead. But you know, Paul and Santorum close for the second place. They're tied to the vote.
[Vercammen:] And you have a rare insight into some of the voting in King County because you had a caucus at your house in five precincts.
[Wilbur:] We did.
[Vercammen:] How did it go?
[Wilbur:] We had five precincts, we have 56 people in our house and we did found room for all of them, most of these people never been involved before. It went overwhelmingly for Mitt Romney. They want to get involved. They are concern about the country. They all have the chance to come and to have a say. And they're very enthusiastic. And you know that should be the kind of exciting to see these new people involved in the process for the first time.
[Vercammen:] We appreciate you taking the time out.
[Wilbur:] You bet.
[Vercammen:] We are going to check out with you throughout the night.
[Wilbur:] We will be here.
[Vercammen:] OK. Kirby, thank you so much.
[Wilbur:] Thanks very much.
[Vercammen:] Well, you got it there from the GOP chairman, 26 of 39 counties reporting. The numbers are just starting to come in. We're waiting for the populous counties, Wolf, and some indications that it could take maybe more than an hour. We'll have to see. Back to you now, Wolf.
[Blitzer:] Yes. But we are expecting 100 percent or nearly 100 percent of the vote in within an hour, is that right?
[Vercammen:] Well, I'm not positive about that. The chairman has said that they expect 100 percent but I checked around with some of the counties and I'm not sure they'll all be able to make those calls and have all of those I's dotted and T's crossed. So, let's hope for that. But as you know, Wolf, as we saw in Colorado and other states this season, sometimes what's promised doesn't always exactly comes true right at the time that we want.
[Blitzer:] Yes. To paraphrase somebody else, stuff happens. All right, we'll see what happens. Thanks very much for that. Paul, who is right on top of the situation in Washington State. Unlike the secrecy of primary elections, the caucus process is wide open. Cameras and reporters, they are allowed in. They can watch everything. And there's give and take as voters explain their choices and try to persuade others to change their mind. Here's some of what our caucus cameras saw during today's meetings.
[Shannon Travis, Cnn Political Reporter:] These fine folks are getting ready to caucus just a few short moments from now. They're expecting between 400 and 600 people. But I want to draw your attention to something that is different in this caucus than in other caucuses that we have seen. The people who are basically at this table now, they're walking through the door and immediately casting their ballot for who they want to win in this caucus in Washington State. After that, they'll go just a few short feet back to a cafeteria where the caucus process will continue.
[Unidentified Male:] Pleased to see this great turnout.
[Travis:] And finally, one of the most important parts of this caucus process here in Lakewood, Washington, electing delegates, those prizes that all four of the presidential candidates are after here. Take a look around at these different tables. They're basically people separated into different precincts. These delegates that they're electing right now, they are non-binding. By the end of the night, once this caucus is over, CNN will be estimating which candidates, how many delegates that they each get.
[Unidentified Male:] They want the president, whoever is president to focus on the deficit and get Americans back to work.
[Travis:] Oliver and Shannon Travis earlier in the day out at the caucus site. Let's find out why Washington State is such an important state in this Republican race for the White House. Our Chief national correspondent John King is joining us. He is over at the magic wall with a closer look. John, Washington state very important in this contest, not only for the Republican nomination but in November especially as well.
[John King, Chief National Correspondent:] Could conceivably be battleground state in November. The Democrats have had good luck in Washington State in recent cycles. But if you go back a little bit, how Washington used to be a swing state in presidential politics hasn't been that way in a while. But, Mitt Romney for example says if he wins the nomination, he would take a good look at Washington State. Let's just look at the map. Watch the state as it lit up Romney at the moment because of the early results. That's not final. But, what Governor Romney is hoping for tonight, Wolf, this is to springboard into Super Tuesday, ten contests on Tuesday. Governor Romney at the moment has some momentum. He just won Michigan. He just won Arizona. He just won Wyoming. He has momentum now. Remember, it was senator Santorum, the purple state; Santorum had the momentum not long ago. Romney hopes now to have a spring board and he hopes to get it more of Washington State. Again, that's 30 percent of the results in, Mitt Romney leading, Ron Paul in second place, tie for second place, an exact tie at this results, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. This would be number one, a big disappointment for Ron Paul. We keep saying caucus states are his strength states. He hasn't won one yet. And a lot of people thought just a few days ago, Washington State could be his first win. Now, let's watch and see. He has time to come back. Why do I say that? Well, if you look here, King County is almost 30 percent of the state population. That's the big county where Seattle is. This is the biggest most populous county in the state. This is critical in any election in Washington State. So, we're waiting for the results to come in there. If you come across to the other side of the state, Spokane as well, Wolf, a major population center. So, we've got a ways to go. You see the state filling in at the moment. But if Governor Romney can win again, he thinks he has momentum going into big day on Tuesday.
[Blitzer:] And it's your assumption, I think a lot of people just believe the big county, King County, where Seattle is, that's Romney territory. So, he could extend his lead once that county start reporting. They haven't started reporting yet.
[King:] They have not reported yet. And look, what we may be finally seeing this race, as a lot of people have said, you know, where is this vaunted Romney organization. Senator Santorum has won with passion in another state. Well, as results start to come in, you see some results coming in a little bit error in the wall right there as data comes into the wall. Now, just not that long ago, people who said Ron Paul might win Washington State. But we're beginning to see organization matter. He came back in Michigan late, turned out to vote. Has he done that in Washington State as well tonight? It could be a big question. And if he proves it, Wolf, two or three states in a row, then we'll watch it on Tuesday night.
[Blitzer:] And told, building up towards Tuesday. Ten contest this coming Tuesday. John, stand by. Let's bring in our political team. Joining me now are chief political analyst, Gloria Borger, our CNN contributor, Hillary Rosen, a Democratic strategist along with our CNN contributor, Ari Fleischer, the former press secretary for President George W. Bush. Set the scene, Gloria, for us. First of all right now, assuming and it looks like Mitt Romney is in pretty good shape now.
[Gloria Borger, Cnn Chief Political Analyst:] Yes.
[Blitzer:] Assuming he wins, this will give him momentum going into Super Tuesday.
[Borger:] Absolutely. First of thought, we're waiting for Spokane county which has got a lot of Ron Paul supporters. The interesting question to me is if Romney wins, who is going o be number two, will it be Santorum or will it be Ron Paul? But this is a very important win psychologically. Let's put the delegates aside for the Romney campaign because what they believe is that this shows, for the first time that they're actually getting a bounce out of their previous wins. And that there is something called momentum in this campaign, and that voters may be paying attention to something called electability. And that finally, you know, you see in the caucuses and primaries, that where Mitt Romney has done very well with voters who believe that he is the most electable candidate in the fall. And so, I think that maybe his calling card here, because nothing succeeds like success. So the more you win, the more you win.
[Blitzer:] And Ari, one thing that's been a bit surprising, I guess to some is Newt Gingrich. He's probably at least he's ahead of the polls in his home state of Georgia, which votes this coming Tuesday. But he's a distant fourth in Washington State. He's not doing well in these other states. What happened?
[Ari Fleischer, Cnn Contributor:] You know, Wolf, it's increasingly looking like what propelled Newt Gingrich were the debates and his performance taking on reporters. Absent that, I'm not sure who would have won South Carolina. And Newt may have won it but certainly by a smaller margin. But that's really what propelled him and that was it. Otherwise, Newt has been the thoughtful grandfather of the lot of the other debates, the person a lot of Republican said. He's been more thoughtful than I thought. But fundamentally, Newt was a candidate who very few people took seriously enough to think he has presidential mettle. And I think that's why you see him wasn't able to go on, on the basis of his name, his ideas, his new solutions of things he says he's for. He faded a long time ago. And it's very hard to see him coming back.
[Blitzer:] You know, as we take a look, Hillary, at what's going on from the democratic perspective of another win, three wins over the past few days, if he wins in Washington State going into Super Tuesday that really does propel Mitt Romney in a significant way.
[Hilary Rosen, Cnn Contributor:] It gives him momentum. I don't think Democrats are particularly worried about Washington State. President Obama won it handily in 2008. I think he would again in this year.
[Blitzer:] In November, you're talking.
[Rosen:] In November. But, you know, the thing that we should talk about with Mitt Romney is the point that John made which is really he has an organization and he has paid for it. He has spent about over $60 million to the next biggest spender as Rick Santorum at $8 million. That's where money comes in. The super PACs are paying a lot of money for ads on TV. Romney's organization and the funding he is doing on the ground, he is powering through his party's unhappiness with him. And he's powering through it with that kind of organization with money.
[Borger:] When you talk to people in the Romney campaign though, about Washington State. They say that if they win tonight, it was actually unexpected for them. This isn't one of their target states. Yes, they spent some time in Washington State after they won the last primaries because they saw it as an opportunity. But it's not a place they really expected to win. So it may be the start of some kind of a snowball effect.
[Rosen:] Inevitability.
[Borger:] Exactly.
[Blitzer:] Ari, this is the first contest we've seen we've had something, obviously in Arizona, but in Washington State, it moves it to a different level really out west to northwestern part of the country. And there are indications that we'll learn from what happens tonight.
[Fleischer:] Yes. New region of the country and that's the interesting thing in the primaries overtime. It forces the candidates to have a national appeal not just regional appeal. I think that's a good thing. But, here's something else to keep an eye on tonight, and that's turnout. If turnout is low, it will favor Ron Paul. As you pointed out earlier, he's supposed to do well in a caucus state because he has such a passionate following. But, if a lot of people turn out other because Mitt Romney organizing or because they're just motivated by excitement in the race, then turnout is higher and that's going to favor Mitt Romney. So, the numbers actually are coming in so far are even better for Mitt Romney than they first indicate because they're coming in from the western part of the state. I'm sorry, the eastern part of the state first. It would be surprising that Mitt Romney is doing that well in the eastern part of the state. But it looks like he is. I expect Mitt Romney to do much better in King County and some of the eastern counties, the big populated counties. So, right now, I got to say. This is looking like a strong night for Mitt Romney. And I think turnout is heavy. You heard the chairman say it.
[Blitzer:] Yes, 30 percent of the population in King County where Seattle is. All right, standby. Everyone stand by. We are going to be going back to Washington State to the caucuses. We'll hear from the Republican Party chairman. It will be announced the final result from the podium. We'll have live coverage. You're looking at the cameras of the podium where the announcement will be made. We expect it to be made within the hour.