Mitt Romney Needs Early 2012 Knockout To Avoid Extended GOP Primary 2012 Weekly Delegate Distribution and Availability 1,143 delegates (out of 2,427) are needed to win the nomination. If the delegates awarded before June are split between Romney, Gingrich, Perry, Cain and Paul, with Ron coming in first, second or third in every contest until June, and Paul wins the 172 delegates in California on June 5th, he could VERY LIKELY win the nomination. Help out: Phone-bank, donate, or just spread the word!