Republican Mitt Romney defeats Obama in Tennessee

photo Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee voters have chosen Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama.

The former Massachusetts governor, who lost to Rick Santorum in the state's Republican primary in March, had few problems gaining Tennessee's 11 electoral votes Tuesday.

With less than 1 percent of precincts reporting, Romney had 239,399 votes, or 58 percent, compared with Obama's 199,766 votes, or 41 percent.

Tennessee has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in each election since 2000.

Voters also gave a second term to Republican U.S. Sen. Bob Corker. He defeated Democrat Mark Clayton, a part-time floor installer who was disavowed by the state party after the primary for his anti-gay views.

In early returns, Corker had 246,322 votes, or 64 percent, compared with Clayton's 120,988 votes, or 31 percent.

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