U.S. news services say Romney won about 55 percent of the vote to nearly 30 percent for his top rival, Rick Santorum.  The other two Republican candidates, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich, finished far behind.

　　With the win, Romney picked up a 54 more delegates and gained major momentum heading into upcoming nominating contests.  A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to secure the Republican nomination and earn the right to take on President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in the November election.

　　In his victory speech, Romney said three years of President Obama have brought Americans "fewer jobs, shrinking paychecks, historic drops in income and historic highs in gas prices."  The former Massachusetts governor called for new leadership in the White House.

　　"Tonight we thank the people of Illinois for their vote and for this extraordinary victory," said Romney. "Thank you so much.  Elections are about choices and today hundreds of thousands of people in Illinois have joined millions of people across the country to join our cause.  And this movement began on a small farm in New Hampshire on a sunny June day, we were surrounded by a small group of our friends and some supporters and family.  We shared a conviction that the America we loved was in trouble and adrift without strong leadership, and three years of Barack Obama have brought us fewer jobs and shrinking paychecks that many of us believed we were in danger of losing something even more than the value of our homes and our 401ks, after years of too many apologies and not enough jobs, historic drops  in income and historic highs in gas prices.  A president who doesn’t hesitate to use all the means necessary to force through Obamacare on the American public, but leads from behind in the world.  It’s time to say these words, this word, enough, we’ve had enough.”

　　Heading into the Illinois primary, the former Massachusetts governor had won more than 500 delegates, while Santorum was in the 200s.  Gingrich and Paul were far behind.