Betting Turns Attention to Obama-Romney Race

Mitt Romney is all but assured of claiming the Republican nomination for the upcoming US presidential election, if the online sportsbook odds are any indication. But there are still plenty of betting options for those who get in early.

William Hill have eased Romney into unbackable 1/20 odds to defeat rivals Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich and become Republican presidential candidate. Likewise, 888sports, bet365 and AllYouBet have all installed the former Massachusetts governor as an odds-on favorite.

Republican Party presidential primaries were set to take place in Maryland, Wisconsin and Washington, DC, on Tuesday. But a miracle will be needed from the other candidates if they are to overcome Romney in the home stretch, as he already holds more than double the amount of delegates than second-placed Santorum.

President Barack Obama is still in the box seat to win the 2012 US Presidential Election, leading William Hill's odds at 2/5. The odds of a Republican winning are 7/4, and an independent 50/1. Romney is 2/1, Santorum, 25/1, and other potential Republican nominees are at odds of 50/1 and greater to become the next Commander-in-Chief.

William Hill Online is also running odds on the GOP's vice-presidential candidate, and there are some interesting names in there. Wagers are being accepted on such individuals as Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Sarah Palin, John McCain, Donald Trump and even conservative shock-jocks Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.