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John Makely / msnbc.com
Michigan voters go to the polls to vote in St. Clair Shores on Feb. 28, 2012.
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Mitt Romney found himself fighting to infuse his presidential candidacy with new energy and stave off embarrassment in Tuesday’s Republican primary in Michigan.
A native son of Michigan, where his father served as governor, Romney’s facing high expectations about his ability to beat former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who’s directly challenged him with message focusing on the middle class and a manufacturing revival.
Romney had been expected to easily win here until Santorum upset the former Massachusetts governor in a trio of nominating contests earlier this month. If momentum carries Santorum to victory on Tuesday in Michigan, it would put Romney’s campaign – long considered the favorite among Republicans seeking the nomination – on precarious political footing.
“I think it’s going to be an embarrassment if he does lose. I don’t think it looks good when you win in your home state, but I’m hopeful that he’ll pull it out,” said Julie Wells, a teacher from Birmingham who intends to vote for Romney, at a rally Monday evening in this Detroit suburb.
John Makely / msnbc.com
Rick Santorum has a quick bite to eat before speaking to the Livonia Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 27. in Livonia, Mich.
Arizona also hosts its primary on Tuesday evening. Romney is generally favored to win that contest, while Michigan has been transformed into the key battleground for the trajectory of the Republican race.
Romney’s stop in Royal Oak represented a distilled version of the message he’s preached over the past week, emphasizing his roots in Michigan, his private sector experience and his skill in leading an economic turnaround – an especially important message in a state where the downturn has been especially pronounced.
“I’m going to be able to talk about the economy with credibility that he doesn’t have,” Romney said of President Barack Obama at a campaign event on Monday evening.
First Read: Decision day in Michigan and Arizona
The boisterous gathering was intended to project a kind of momentum and inevitability for Romney that was far from certain. Polling over the past week has suggested Romney is running virtually even with Santorum, a candidate who’s aggressively courting Michigan’s conservative, blue-collar voters.
“Santorum, when it comes down to it, is talking the talk and walking the walk,” Republican State Sen. Jack Brandenburg, a Santorum voter, said in a weekend interview. “For him and Romney to be neck and neck in Romney’s home state with the reputation that Romney’s family has – I think that says a lot for what Rick Santorum has done.”
A Romney loss on Tuesday could threaten to upend a nominating process that had been assumed to be tending in his favor with just a week before a major delegate haul is at stake on March 6, Super Tuesday.
John Makely / msnbc.com
Bob Pohl, of Spring Arbor, Mich., holds up an old campaign poster of George Romney, Mitt Romney's father, during a rally at the Caster Concepts company in Albion, Mich.
“I think if Romney loses in Michigan, he really doesn’t have a chance of beating Obama,” said Tim Donnelly, a former construction worker who went back to school to study accounting because of the poor economy here. Donnelly was an undecided voter as of Monday night, but said he was leaning toward Romney.
Santorum might have already inflicted a degree of damage against Romney, threatening to drag out the fight for the GOP nomination, if nothing else. A Monday poll of Republican primary voters in Ohio, which hosts its primary on Super Tuesday, found Santorum leading Romney.
"We're doing remarkably well for being as outspent as we are and feel very, very good about the reaction we're getting as we travel around the state of Michigan,” Santorum said Monday morning in Livonia, Mich. “We're getting good crowds, and obviously, the people are reacting well to our message."
If Romney does manage a victory on Tuesday evening, he’ll accomplish it by relying on the same playbook that led to wins in New Hampshire and Florida. In both of those states, the Romney campaign and a supportive super PAC outspent Republican opponents, and the candidate himself went more aggressively after candidates who posed a threat to his lead.
First Read: Romney admits mistakes, attacks Santorum's 'dirty tricks'
Romney also enjoys being seen as more electable than Santorum or the two other remaining Republican candidates, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.
“I’m actually hoping he [Romney] will come out,” said Louann Bierlein Palmer, a professor at Western Michigan University and self-described moderate Republican, of Romney’s performance in Michigan. An Obama voter in 2008, she said she couldn’t support Santorum as the nominee “because I frankly prefer to have a choice between two moderates.”
But Romney has also committed gaffes that reminded Michigan voters of his immense wealth, including mentioning his wife’s two Cadillacs at a speech Friday at Ford Field – a choice of venue that was panned for its cavernous backdrop, given the thousands of empty seats in the stadium.
John Makely / msnbc.com
Mitt Romney thanks Kid Rock after he and his band performed at the rally supporting Romney's campaign for President.
The difference on Tuesday might stem from Romney’s deep roots in the state. The Monday night rally pulled out all the stops, and featured speeches by Gov. Rick Snyder and other statewide officials. It was capped by a performance by Kid Rock, a Detroit native whose song, “Born Free,” was adopted as the Romney campaign’s anthem.
“That’s a big factor,” said Robert Bolton, a Methodist pastor who said he’d make up his mind between Romney and Santorum on Tuesday morning. “I was a young Republican when his dad was running for governor.”
“When you leave home, Michigan’s a unique place. Our roots are always here, and people who aren’t from Michigan, the transplants, they don’t quite understand that,” Bolton added.
Leave a Comment:
Like the expression goes "If you're poor, middle class or a minority and you vote Republican, you're an idiot".
You forgot half of the voters...women...
I'm not impressed by what the GOP has passed as candidates.
Obama doesn't have a worry in the world against these clowns, so sad another 4 years down the drain if he wins.
Where's the Independent party!!?? they're our last chance at salvation!!!
Agreed. We sure need one.
Earlier today ForestGump had a funny and right-on post about flip-flopping, say-anything-to get-elected Romney after it was discovered he voted in the '92 Dmeocratic primary to weaken them:
'I'm a poor rich man,
I'm a republican that votes for democrats,
I am a severely conservative liberal,
I helped implement a great health-care system that really sucks,
I love American cars but I would have put the American car companies out of business,
I create jobs by destroying companies,
I'm a schizophrenic, no I'm not, yes I am, no I'm not,
the truth is I'm just a pathological liar, that's a lie, is not, is, is not, is,
okay now I got to kick my own as*.' - Mitt Romney (* in place of letter)
You should do more research on the subject matter you erroneously talk about.
OOOOOO - touched a nerve there didn't I?
But - the comment stands as is. I agree with Gump.
You Dems remind me of Chicago Cub fans here in Chicago always thinking your team (in this case Obama) has a chance ,do you really think with Un Em at above 8% and gas over $4 he s a shoe in hahahahahaha
hey frank election day i will show you how to hold your gun under your chin
Gas could be 10 dollars a gallon and Obama gets re elected. Under these republicans 99 percent of people wouln't have a job or own a house. Much less be able to afford a car.
frankbblack
Oh, I think it is safe to say that the ELECTORATE does realize that big-oil CEO's are ALL republicans, and also that those zionist-wall-street speculators are also good ole-boy republicans..
Name one big-oil CEO who is a democrat.... just one.
You were saying?
I think they're more like yankees fans.
TO: frankbrown who wrote:
And just think, we're better off now than when Republicans ran the show.
Obama / Biden 2012
Mitt Romney is a nice man....Rick Santorum is an over the top nut. He would taken women back 100 years...and place their health and lives at stake if he had his way.
Very nice to the 1%. Get grover and his goonies out of Washington for good. They are all nuts with alot of money. DANGEROUS.
Well I did not vote today. Romney and his cult gang in AZ. can go to hell. These morman cults in arizona can't defeat him, but nationally no one trusts a cult member. I trust Romney about as far as I can throw him, which is not far, but inches.
Romney is not relatable as an average American. He couldn't keep his mouth shut about how much money he has...
AZ seahawk--so, folks like you HAMMERED Romney for NOT saying how much money he has, and then when he does, you HAMMER him for 'not keeping his mouth shut about how much money he has'?
In other words, damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.
Why don't you look into the finances of Lyndon Johnson? He came to Washington en MAJOR Debt, and retired a millionaire (when that was still "a lot of money'!) All on money he sucked out of the PEOPLE.
I think I might prefer someone who does NOT need to make money off the 'people' because he already has plenty.
MSNBC editor's spelling skills aren't worth a damn. Retards.
you have a big forehead..loot at me when you talk
@Elvis
That's OK. He just joined and is a troll. They seem to carry a stink about them. They don't add much. Just vile and slime.
If Santorum becomes the GOP nominee, Obama will win in a landslide. Santorum gets so much more hatred from the liberal base that he will help rally the liberal turnout in just about every state, including critical swing states. Though he will also help rally the conservative turnout, the GOP establishment (i.e. the people with all the money), will not have quite as much enthusiasm for him. In addition, a Santorum nomination will pretty much guarantee that every independent voter will flock to the Obama camp. His statement about JFK's speech that "makes him want to vomit" and his rants against college education puts him firmly in the extremist camp.
You are way off there is a HUGE ground swell growing against Obama its ABO Baby Anybody But Obama whoever runs against him wins just like if Adolph ran in IsraeL LOL Not quite as bad but close LOL
Go Santorum!
Put him in your prayers...LOL
Hey Frank, that ABO movement you are talking about is an illusion of the right wing extremists like yourself. It's always been the moderate independents in this country that decides who gets elected, and in a match up between Santorum and Obama, the independents will go for Obama everytime. Santorum doesn't believe in freedom of religion (unless you are a right-wing Christian of course), and he thinks Americans should not go to college because it's a place of "liberal indoctrination". Anyone who has even half a brain realizes the lunacy of his statements, which is why he scares the heck of independent voters.
Frank
We all know about the ABO movement. What it really means is "ABO as long as he's white". Who do you think you clowns are fooling. You guys need to go out and get a meaningful life.
WOW you losers all hate anyone with Money almost as much as you hate Capitalism .............simple answer move to China your kind of place.
Speak about yourself. Idiot.
frank that would be Romney's corporation you are talking about
Yeah, we love being pushed out of the middle class into the poorhouse, losing our jobs and houses...yeah, that's it...
All the while the Banks and TooBigToFail Corps make record profits while getting huge tax breaks and corporate welfare...
Frank, we love our money as much as Romney and Enron...we just wish the playing field was fair...
Actually if we had a chance to make a little money that didn't go on bills and survival and could actually live. Not week to week, day to day, and earn as much as we did 20 years ago capitalism wouldn't look so bad. The only reason Americans are able to live is credit and now it has gone to the rich that don't even need it. Everybody likes money. Everybody just wants a level playing field and with grover and his goonies it has been sold to the highest bidder.
Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are both widely loved. America has some sense.
VOTE ROMNEY MICHIGAN. Don't be fooled.
Wrong.
Go Santorum!
C'mon Dems, get out there and VOTE!
If the conservatives want any chance AT ALL, they need to vote for the rich plastic Mormon.
What do you want more than 1 wifee? If so you are a cult member.
Independent voters will not see Romney as a useful improvement over Obama.
The only useful chance for a Republican victory is Ron Paul.
If the conservatives want any chance AT ALL, they need to vote for the rich plastic Moron.
Trickle-down platitudes and throwing billions at media whores is the most effective way to get elected. Remember, the cult of the greedy stays in power. Even George W. Bush, the liar and torturer got elected. Building a political platform and making an honest promise to the people hasn't worked since Jimmy Carter.
Now, go sit slack-jawed in front of your TV and recieve some more important messages from the secret cult that administers the system.
Screw you and your thoughts.
"Romney fights to stave off embarrassment in Michigan"! WELL, I'd say that it's WAAAYYY too late for that!
Love to see Santorum in the White House - someplace fancy he can bring his dead 20 week fetus to bond with. Google this if you don't believe the story. He brings home a dead fetus to play with, sleep with and show his children. Gad, more religious nut cases in the world.
Professor Morbius, your an idiot with an iq of 0.00.
arizona,
If you don't have a position that you can defend, please refrain from posting simple insults...it only insults your own intelligence.
Mitt wants to stave off embarrassment.
Easy, dude. Leave the right-wing delusional mobs behind and rejoin the human race.
The real question, then, is do we want you. After all those lies you told? You are not salvageable for the human race. Sorry, but you are stuck with the right-wing pork chop around your neck.
If Ron Paul does not win, its US bankruptcy and more foreign wars.
If Ron Paul does not win, the US will evolve into another worthless totalitarian police state.
If Ron Paul does not win, our children future will include sneaking across our borders to Mexico and South America desperately seeking work. At least one third of them will be illegal aliens because they will have arrest records (more than 30% of Americans are arrested by age 23) and will not be able to obtain passports.
Our children deserve better than what Romney and Obama have to offer.
=============
Vote Ron Paul if he makes the ballot.
Vote LIBERTARIAN if he does not.
Vote LIBERTARIAN for all non-presidential seats.
I predict that Michiganders will choose to forgo their "Mittens" tonight when heading to the polls.
"Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" - Mitt Romney (2008)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/28/us-obama-autos-idUSTRE81R1SC20120228
You got that right! More proof to just what a phony Romney really is:
"Mitt Romney came under criticism Monday for recalling a seminal moment from his childhood in Detroit that actually took place nine months before he was born." - The Huffington Post, 02/27/2012
“I’m going to be able to talk about the economy with credibility that he doesn’t have,” Romney said (of Obama).
More free talk from the RNC/GOP 1% candidate maintaining myths underlying Republican sense of entitlement to govern.
Obama has facts over Romney's words. A bikini graph with a long string on the right reflecting a recovering national economy that was setup to fail by Repulican led policies of outsourcing, trickle-up and deregulation.
Just like the RNC/GOP policies and positions leading to the Great Depression, Savings & Loan Debacle, and Great Recession - No myth spinning words about tomorrow can change the facts of yesterday.
People should be objective enough to see a connection to outcomes, quit staying politically tribal and dumbed down, and vote accordingly to avoid repeating the past.
One definition of Insanity:
Doing the same action over and over and expecting different results.
It would be, literaly, crazy to vote for any conservative republican...
"No myth spinning words about tomorrow can change the facts of yesterday"...I love that.
Political Prisoner 2012
Seems to fit your IQ does it not? what lies? All is the truth.
They say the turn out in Michigan could be 20% that includes democrats.The excitement is just more then the republican party can handle
Romney makes ~$50 million every year. Supposedly, to be a part of the .05% you have to take home at least ~$500 thousand per year, so it is safe to say that he qualifies.
He owns six homes and many cars, he owns over ~$250 million in stock, and he doesn't have to work a day for it. Hard working my ass. Interestingly enough, all of that (income) is from capital gains.
So when you break it down, the average American works a five day week and brings home ~$50K each year--averaging ~$135 each day. But when you are breaking down Mitt's '"man of the poeple" lifestyle, you would find that he makes ~$150K every day (3X as much as the average family makes in a year), simply for flapping his BS mouth and his crappy agenda.
I'm sure he has our best interests in mind.
The more I look at him, the more Romney looks like Paulie Walnuts.
Charlie Crist said all when he said 'there's no room in the Republican Party for a moderate'. Romney knows it as well. That's why he's running around saying all the 'conservative' BS. He knows he can only get nominated, maybe, by being the person that can't get elected.
These are strange times.