CHICAGO - The US Senate majority leader, Mr Bob Dole, swept three big mid western Republican primaries and closed in on the Republican presidential nomination.
Exit polls showed Mr Dole winning easily in Ohio and Illinois. The conservative commentator, Mr Pat Buchanan, Mr Dole's last remaining serious Republican rival, gave Mr Dole more of a fight in Michigan but the 72 year old Kansas senator still prevailed.
Polls in Wisconsin were due to close a little later but Mr Dole was expected to win there as well.