Republicans battle for the Deep South

Voting is underway in Mississippi and Alabama in a pair of high stakes republican primaries with polls showing a three way dead heat.

A victory for Mitt Romney in either state, would be a critical breakthrough that could put the front-runner on a path to the nomination by proving his ability to appeal to the party's core conservatives in the Deep South.

Newt Gingrich, who won his home state of Georgia a week ago, is banking n a Southern strategy in the race for the White House.

Rick Santorum hopes to knock Gingrich out of the race and consolidate conservative opposition to Romney.

Polls found all three contenders within a few percentage points of each other in both states.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.