Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney scored a hard-fought victory in his native state of Michigan and won handily in Arizona, slowing the advance of his top US Republican presidential rival Rick Santorum and gaining precious momentum ahead of a key set of primary contests next week.
Romney’s sweep of Tuesday’s contests marked the latest turn in a turbulent Republican primary campaign and could cement his status as his party’s front-runner to challenge US President Barack Obama in the November presidential election. However, he fell short of landing the knock-out punch needed to stop his top opponent in his tracks.
Romney is viewed as the candidate best positioned to beat Obama, and he has the backing of much of the Republican establishment, as well as more campaign funds and a stronger organization than his primary rivals. However, Santorum has captured the heart of the party’s conservative base, which has no doubt about the authenticity of his views on social issues, such as abortion, and considers Romney too moderate and inconsistent.
“We didn’t win by a lot, but we won by enough, and that’s all that counts,” Romney told cheering supporters in Michigan on Tuesday night.
“On to the March contests,” he said, looking ahead to next week’s 10 “Super Tuesday” races that could go a long way toward determining the Republican who will take on Obama.
Santorum had hoped for a win in Michigan following his victories earlier last month in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri. He told supporters late on Tuesday that a month ago “they didn’t know who we are, but they do now.”
The former senator from Pennsylvania was already campaigning in Ohio, one of next week’s biggest prizes, when the verdict came in from Michigan, and vowed to stay the conservative course he has set. Romney was to campaign in Ohio yesterday before flying to North Dakota.
Two other candidates in the race, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and US Representative Ron Paul, made little effort in either Michigan or Arizona, focusing instead on Super Tuesday contests. Gingrich planned to campaign yesterday in Georgia, the state he represented in the House of Representatives for 20 years.
With 99 percent of Michigan’s precincts reporting, Romney had 41 percent to Santorum’s 38 percent. Paul was in third place with 12 percent, and Gingrich was bringing up the rear with 7 percent.
In Arizona with all precincts reporting, Romney led with 47 percent to Santorum’s 27 percent. Gingrich was third with 16 percent and Paul came in last with 8 percent.
Romney’s victory in Arizona had been expected. Michigan was as different and turned into an expensive battle that Romney could ill afford to lose and Santorum made every effort to pull off an upset win.
In interviews as they left their polling places, Michigan voters expressed a lack of enthusiasm about their choices.
Just 45 percent said they strongly favored the candidate they voted for, while 38 percent expressed reservations and 16 percent said they made the choice they did because they disliked the alternatives.
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