Presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul each hope personal appeals will convince West Virginia's Republican Party Convention to award one of them 18 seats to the national nominating convention.

The three plan to speak in Charleston at Tuesday's winner-take-all event, which expected voting by more than 1,200 party members from across the state.

Front-runner John McCain is stumping elsewhere, but sent former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer to Charleston on his behalf.

West Virginia expects to post the first results among the 21 states with GOP primaries or caucuses Tuesday. More than 1,000 delegates to the Republican national convention are up for grabs nationwide, making this Super Tuesday the biggest primary day in U.S. history.

Though state delegates are free to change allegiances, Romney entered the convention with the largest bloc at 210. Huckabee followed with 138, while Paul attracted 95.

McCain had 15 and is also expected to pick up at least some of the 160 delegates gathered by Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani before they quit the race.