Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts eked out a close win in Michigan over former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, but romped to victory in the Arizona Republican primary.
Great victory in Arizona tonight, Romney said before thanking a cheering crowd in Michigan for his win in the Great Lakes State. We didnt win by a lot but we won by enough, and thats all that matters."
With the backing of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and much of the Republican leadership in the state, Michigan was expected to be strong for Romney. He won the state by 9 percent in the 2008 primary cycle and his father, George Romney, served as governor of Michigan during the 1960s. Despite this background, Santorum, after sweeping contests in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri earlier in the month, led in the polls earlier in the month, only for Romney to catch him in recent days and pass him in most polls taken earlier in the week.
With 83 percent of the votes counted, Romney led in Michigan with 41 percent, followed by Santorum with 38 percent, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas in distant third with 12 percent and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich lagging in single digits with 7 percent. The 30 delegates at stake are broken down by congressional district -- meaning, while Romney won more than Santorum, he did not take all of them.
While Michigan proved a close contest, Arizona was a very different story. Seconds after the election closed at 9 p.m. EST, networks called the contest for Romney, who had been dominating in the polls. Romney won all 29 delegates at stake in the Grand Canyon State.
With more than 42 percent of the votes counted in Arizona, Romney took 49 percent while Santorum placed second with 25 percent, followed by Gingrich in third with 16percent and Paul in fourth with 9 percent.
As in Michigan, Romney had the support of most of the states Republican leaders -- including Gov. Jan Brewer and U.S. Sen. John McCain. Romney also had a solid base from his 2008 presidential bid. He took 35 percent in Arizona in the Feb. 5, 2008 primary -- enough for a solid second place behind favorite-son McCain, who won with 47 percent.
The candidates will not have much time to rest as Washington holds its caucus on March 3 and Super Tuesday looms on March 6 with contests in Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia.
Romney will look to win in his neck of the woods in Massachusetts and Vermont, while looking to win delegate-rich Virginia, where he will face only Paul. Santorum is ahead in the polls in Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Despite placing second in Michigan, Santorum offered an upbeat speech, saying he was pleased with his strong showing in Romneys "backyard." He also looked to set the stage for future contests.
Bureaucrats in Washington dont care about flyover country, Santorum told supporters in Michigan.
Paul spoke to supporters in Virginia even before the polls closed in Arizona and Michigan. While he was not much of a factor in either contest, Paul shows no signs of dropping out.
The Texas congressman is the only candidate besides Romney to be on the ballot in the Old Dominion, which holds its primary on March 6. Paul will also be looking to do well in some of the caucus contests in the next week -- Washington on March 3 and Idaho on March 6.
In his speech, Paul ripped into the Federal Reserve and the growth of government, offering his supporters a history lesson as he railed against policies enacted during the Progressive Era.
When government grows, liberties are undermined, he said.
The congressman called for reducing American military force overseas and for returning to the Constitution.
Gingrich was also not much of a factor in either the Arizona or Michigan primaries on Tuesday -- but, speaking in his home base of Georgia before the polls closed, he showed no sign of dropping out of the race, either.
Georgia was clearly on the former congressional leaders mind. Speaking on Tuesday night at his old stomping ground of West Georgia College, where he launched his academic career, Gingrich is running ahead in the polls in Georgia. While he trails Santorum in polls of Tennessee, Gingrich has been targeting the Volunteer State, where he has the backing of former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
