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If these polls are correct, Romney could win close to 40 of the 66 delegates at stake. This would put his delegate count to 560, about 300 ahead of Santorum, according to the New Yorker.

With a lead that large, it would be difficult for Santorum to catch up and Romney may be able to convince Republicans that voting for Santorum would simply extend the primary process and help Obama.

Romney’s lead over Santorum is especially large with voters living in suburban and urban areas. Romney is also leading in rural areas, usually a Santorum stronghold.

In the general election, urban and suburban voters with conservative inclinations will be a target demographic for both candidates. Romney’s current success with this group gives some validation to those who say that Romney has the greatest chance of defeating Obama come November.

Romney has been campaigning heavily in Illinois and has a 7-1 spending edge against his competitors, a source told the New Yorker.

Santorum is spending at least part of the day Tuesday in Pennsylvania and some say this is a sign he is giving up on Illinois.

Romney has been criticized as being incapable of winning over Republicans in the Midwest.  If he adds Illinois to his wins in Michigan and Ohio, he will have proven that he can win over voters in the middle of the country.

“I need you to go vote tomorrow,” Romney told supporter, reports the Washington Post. “I care about you. I care about this country. I love it very deeply…Together we’re going to get this job done, I’m going to get the nomination, we’re going to defeat Barack Obama and we’re going to take back this great country.”

A Romney win in Illinois would also get him some much-needed momentum. Despite winning seven of the 12 states in Super Tuesday, his losses in some states and a near-tie in Ohio dominated headlines. Santorum later took Alabama and Mississippi. A win for Romney would help him change headlines back in his favor.

On April 3, there are primaries in Maryland, Wisconsin and D.C. Three weeks later there are primaries in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. While Romney is not a sure thing in any of these states, Romney could win the entire Northeast except for Pennsylvania, Santorum’s home state. If he is able to do so, it would be difficult for anyone to question him as the chosen Republican candidate.

Reach executive producer Hannah Madans here.