USA: Republicans Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are neck and neck according to the latest polls of Michigan voters

Record ID: 346509

  • Title: USA: Republicans Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are neck and neck according to the latest polls of Michigan voters
  • Date: 29th February 2012
  • Summary: FARMINGTON HILLS, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 28, 2012) (REUTERS) WOMAN WALKING INTO POLLING BOOTH MAN AT TABLE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE INSIDE POLLING CENTER WOMEN TURNING IN BALLOT VARIOUS OF VOTING BOOTHS MAN STANDING AT VOTING BOOTH (ONLY LEGS VISIBLE) WOMAN STEPPING OUT FROM VOTING BOOTH MAN FILLING OUT HIS BALLOT POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROMNEY SUPPORTER JOHN KONJA SAYING: "I voted for Mitt Romney because I think that he is a man of good principles and I think he will take us in the direction that we want to go." EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION WITH ROMNEY SIGNS ON LAWN (SOUNDBITE) (English) SANTORUM SUPPORTER DONNA COMER SAYING: "For Romney being born and raised here, I can 't believe he had the audacity to say that let Detroit go bankrupt. That's why I am here." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROMNEY SUPPORTER COLLEEN BURSON SAYING: "I think he has a better financial plan and I do think he has a better chance of winning. I am not sot sure if I like any one of the four candidates but I do think he has a better chance of beating Obama." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SANTORUM SUPPORTER SHEILA GRIER SAYING: "Well I just feel like he is a man who has a good record and he follows the same values that I do and that's the foundation of this nation really so I voted for him." ENTRANCE TO VOTING AREA VARIOUS OF BALLOTS VARIOUS OF VOTING BOOTHS VOTERS RECEIVING BALLOTS MAN AT BOOTH ELECTION OFFICIAL EXPLAINING PROCEDURE TO VOTER VARIOUS OF VOTERS AT VOTING BOOTHS MAN RETURNING FORMS TO ELECTION OFFICIALS AS HE LEAVES POLLING STATION
  • Embargoed: 15th March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAE5RNGGGGX5YZTW7G562TFAMEG
  • Story Text: All eyes were on Michigan on Tuesday (February 28) as voters headed to the polls for an election that has been described as a day of reckoning for native son Mitt Romney who is in a close race with former Pennsylvania senator Rick Sanotrum to be the Republican presidential nominee.
    Romney, who was born and raised in Michigan, won the state's Republican primary four years ago but has seen his popularity suffer over his opposition of the government's bailout of the auto industry -- a sensitive issue in a state that is home to headquarters for General Motors, Chrysler and Ford.
    "For Romney being born and raised here, I can 't believe he had the audacity to say let Detroit go bankrupt. That's why I am here," Santorum supporter Donna Comer said.
    Some analysts say local anger about the issue has played a significant factor in Santorum's surge in Michigan. While Santorum also opposed the bailout, the point doesn't seem to have infuriated voters in quite the same way.
    The Santorum campaign has attempted to seize on the anger with a robocall urging Democrats to send a message to Romney because of his opposition to 2009 auto bailouts that kept thousands of Michigan workers employed.
    Romney, who has denounced labor unions repeatedly as he has campaigned, lashed out against the calls.
    At the polling station in Farmington Hills, some voters expressed concern that the bailout would overshadow the entire election.
    "I voted for Mitt Romney because I think that he is a man of good principles and I think he will take us in the direction that we want to go," John Konja said.
    Others who voted for Romney were less enthusiastic. Many said they were frustrated with their choice in candidates.
    "I do think he has a better chance of winning. I am not sot sure if I like either of them, or any of the four candidates but I do think he has a better chance of beating Obama," Colleen Burson, a resident of Farmington Hills said.
    A Santorum win could upend the race and prompt Republican party leaders -- concerned that Santorum's unflinching religious conservatism could make him unelectable -- to search for a new candidate to join the race.
    It's a sentiment some Santorum supporters like Sheila Grier believe is misplaced.
    "I think he is a man who has a good record and he follows the same values that I do and that's the foundation of this nation really so I voted for him," Grier said.
    The one thing that is clear for all -- a loss for Romney in his home state would be devastating to his campaign.
    Beyond the electoral votes, the Romney camp fears the once mighty campaign would lose critical momentum ahead of next week's ten state Super Tuesday -- the largest nominating contest in the country.
    They also worry it could enhance a narrative that has been the one constant during this topsy-turvy campaign -- that Republicans have not stopped auditioning Romney alternatives.
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