Political arithmetic five weeks before the Republican Convention seems to indicate that Richard Nixon is assured a first-ballot victory. After Texas Senator John Tower, a favorite son, released 44 delegates to Nixon last week, the former Vice President appeared comfortably past the 667 votes he will need for the nomination. New York's Governor Nelson Rockefeller had 268 delegate votes, followed by California Governor Ronald Reagan with 161. A breakdown by regions of probable leanings and first-ballot votes, as reported by TIME correspondents in all 50 states:
NIXON ROCKEFELLER REAGAN
NORTHEAST Connecticut (16 votes) . .
Delaware (12)
Maine (14)
Maryland (26)
Massachusetts (34)
New Hampshire...