BY CHARLES BABINGTON The Associated Press Mitt Romney's uninspiring showing in Super Tuesday's primaries nonetheless moves him closer to the Republican presidential nomination. But a string of events and voter data underscore his challenge in winning independent voters turned off by the long, divisive primary. Romney won a tight race against Rick Santorum in Ohio, where he heavily outspent his main rival, and posted victories in Massachusetts, Virginia, Vermont , Idaho and Alaska. Tuesday's mixed results will not change Republican operatives' conviction that Romney is the likeliest nominee. He still has the most delegates, money, organization and experience. His opposition remains divided among three rivals. “I'm going to get this nomination,” Romney told supporters before Ohio's results were known. Santorum, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich show no signs of dropping out, however. Santorum won Tennessee, Oklahoma and North Dakota and Gingrich easily won his home state of Georgia. The results will give them and Paul enough encouragement to keep running for weeks, if not months. As long as the contest continues, Romney must cater to the staunchly conservative voters who dominate Republican primaries and caucuses. And that's a problem for the former Massachusetts governor. Heavy attention to the social issues that excite many conservatives is often distasteful to independents and centrists. They are the crucial voters who will decide whether President Barack Obama gets a second term in November. The past week has been especially worrisome to Republican insiders. National debate focused on Republicans' challenges to birth control, conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh's verbal attack on a female law student, and what some Democrats call a Republican “war on women.” Romney tried to stay above the fuss. But his tardy and wan critique of Limbaugh's crass remarks describing the female law studient as a “slut” and “prostitute” didn't quiet his detractors, to the delight of Democratic activists. Many Republican campaign veterans shrug off polls that show a dearth of Republican enthusiasm for Romney. __
