Mitt Romney looked certain to continue his march toward a showdown with President Barack Obama, leading Rhode Island in Tuesday’s Republican primary with 63 percent of the statewide vote with 96 percent of districts reporting as of 10:15 p.m., according to RI Secretary of State Ralph Mollis's election results web page.

With most numbers in, Romney appeared headed for a sweep nationally, taking Delaware with 57 percent of the vote, Connecticut with 67 percent, Pennsylvania with 60 percent. Romney was leading New York with only 7 percent reporting as of late Tuesday night.

There were 200 total delegates at stake in Tuesday’s votes in Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania.

Going into Tuesday, Romney held 698 total delegates, leading Santorum by more than 400, according to the New York Times delegate tally. He needs 1,144 to clinch the Republican nomination.

In Rhode Island, the former Massachusetts governor garnered 8,616 total votes defeated Ron Paul, the closest challenger, who had captured 3,264 votes (23.9) percent) with 96 percent of the vote counted. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich checked in with 831 votes (6.1 percent), while Sen. Rick Santorum, whose name remained on the ballot despite his decision to back out of the race two weeks ago, managed 769 votes 5.6 percent.

On the Democratic side, President Barack Obama, who was running unopposed, stood at 83.8 percent of the Rhode Island tally as of 10:15 p.m.

There were 200 total delegates at stake in Tuesday’s votes in Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. With most numbers in, Romney appeared headed for a sweep nationally, taking Delaware with 57 percent of the vote, Connecticut with 67 percent, Pennsylvania with 60 percent. Romney was leading New Ne York with only 7 percent reporting as of late Tuesday night.

Going into Tuesday, Romney held 698 total delegates, leading Santorum by more than 400, according to the New York Times delegate tally. He needs 1,144 to clinch the Republican nomination.