The forecasts by CNN, ABC News, and CBS came as the party`s state chairman said Romney was leading with 37 percent of the ballots cast, well ahead of rivals Rick Santorum and Ron Paul who were tied on 24 percent with slightly less than half the votes counted.
Party officials said there was record turnout in Saturday`s caucuses as voters in Washington state, which is usually little more than an afterthought in an election year, was attracting attention due to the tight race.
Romney and Santorum are seeking to harness momentum before Super Tuesday when 10 states will select their favored Republican nominee to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama in November`s general election.
So far the three other remaining candidates, including former House speaker Newt Gingrich, have enjoyed a brief spot as frontrunner but no one has yet emerged as a consistent favorite to take on Obama.
Although Washington state has 43 delegates to the Republican Party convention, which will crown the nominee, these will be chosen at a later date and Saturday`s results are non-binding.
To win the nomination a candidate has to secure a total of 1,144 delegates, so the results from Tuesday`s votes in 10 states with about 400 delegates up for grabs are pivotal.
(U.M016)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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