Posted on 02/28/2012 7:48:25 PM PST by Red Steel
DETROIT, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Mitt Romney was a double winner Tuesday, capturing the Michigan and Arizona Republican presidential primaries, results showed.
The Detroit Free Press declared Romney the victor over his GOP rivals in Michigan.
With about 74 percent of the precincts counted, Romney had 317,258 votes (41 percent) to Rick Santorum's 286,530 (37 percent), results posted by the Free Press showed. Ron Paul was third with 88,521 votes (12 percent) and Newt Gingrich followed with 50,726 votes (7 percent). Another 2 percent voted "uncommitted" and a handful of votes went to several other Republicans who are no longer contenders.
CNN called Romney the winner in Arizona. With 71 percent of the vote counted, Romney had 191,182 votes (48 percent) to Santorum's 101,232 votes (25 percent). Gingrich was third with 65,182 votes (16 percent), with Paul bringing up the rear with 33,505 votes (8 percent).
Exit polls in the two states Tuesday had indicated electability was the top priority among Republican primary voters.
Thirty-three percent of Michigan voters said beating President Obama is the top priority when selecting a GOP nominee, while 38 percent of voters in Arizona said the same, CBS News exit polls indicated.
Romney and Santorum slashed at each other ahead of the Michigan primary, which was too close to call. The contest in his home state is seen as crucial to Romney and his claim of the front-runner's mantle.
Despite the closeness of the Michigan race, the Post said Romney was expected to win about three times as many convention delegates as Santorum Tuesday. Arizona is a winner-take-all primary. Michigan's 30 delegates are allotted proportionately to the primary winner in each of the state's 14 congressional districts. Arizona's winner picks up all of its 29 delegates.
The Washington Post said Romney was expected to garner 45 delegates from both contests, with Santorum picking up about 15.
Gingrich and Paul were not expected to win any delegates, and did not seriously campaign in the two states.
Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, and Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, have been shooting fireballs at each other in recent days.
Romney blasted Santorum's use of robocalls urging Democrats, who can vote GOP in Michigan, to vote for Santorum.
"I know why [President] Obama doesn't want me to face him but I just think it's outrageous and a terrible dirty trick at the last hour, by the way, late in the afternoon on the day before the election, maybe hoping no one would notice, they start sending out calls to Democrats, union members telling them to go into the Republican primary and vote against Mitt Romney," Romney told Fox News.
"This is a new low for his campaign and that's saying something," he added.
Santorum told Fox News Monday night he's just trying to attract the Democratic voters he'll need in November.
"When he runs a robocall of my voice from four years ago saying good things about him, that's not a low moment, and when I run a call basically saying, calling Democrats that are eligible to vote here, to vote for us, that's a low?" he said.
I’m not either. If Romney gets the nomination, I’m voting constitution party or the best 3rd party candidate I can find.
Agree 100%. F Romney, Rove, Coulter, and the rest of the elites.
I must be old school because I believe the Bible is the word of God and our founding fathers believed that too when they drafted our Constitution. Today is further proof that I am in the minority in believing that.
Neither will I nor many others I know around this country, many of whom have faithfully voted for anyone with an “R” next his/her name for decades. “R” is apparently just a letter now.
Sounds like about the only option.
But it won't be a happy time for anyone who might be willing to step up.
As a footnote; I can't believe that my one time home state went for Mittens. Goldwater is spinning in his grave.
I guess we really do need new servers. Thought it was just my connection.
I saw this show 4 years ago. FReepers swear they wont vote for the wishy washy big gubmint McEstablishment candidate. The liberal RINO gets the GOP nomination, chooses a rock star conservative VP running mate, conservatives get back on the bandwagon.
I know the ending and the play is lame.
do you truly believe little ricky can beat OB? Insanity.
“I’m not voting for another RINO shoved down our throats by RINOs.”
Emperor Obama Thanks you for your support. All he needs is one more SCOTUS pick!
Perfect analogy!
I was watching all three cable networks during Romney’s victory speech and I noticed something about the people standing behind him. On Fox, there was a black couple to the far right of Romney. On CNN, half of that couple was visible. On MSNBC, the couple was not visible at all.
I don’t know if this was deliberate or I am making a big deal out of nothing.
I won’t be falling for it this time....the GOP is dead to me now.
I haven’t looked at it closely, but it looks in general like Romney might have won the predominantly Democrat areas of the state and Santorum the predominantly Republican areas. That might make an interesting analysis.
Oh, one more thing....I also will not vote for Romney if he is the nominee. It only encourages the establishment to support more and more liberal nominees. At some point we have to stop the madness. If we don’t, then the Republican nominee will eventually be more liberal than Obama. (The argument could easily be made that our nominees are already more liberal than Harry Truman and John Kennedy.)
Voting for Romney might be great tactics, but horrible strategy.
“Emperor Obama Thanks you for your support. All he needs is one more SCOTUS pick!”
Stop it!
How dare you throw reality and a bit of pragmatism in the face of a good tantrum!
Can’t wait to hear the tantrums when Obama gets his 2nd term.
If Sarah would take it, that would be ideal. They’ve already hit her with everything they’ve got and she’s still standing. She’s popular enough to come into the race with a huge following, the only one I can think of who would, and she wouldn’t have McCain holding her back.
I understand why she held back but she’s got to see where this is headed.
Romney insulted conservatives once again today with his conservatives only respond to incindiary rhetoric, not interested in issues. I’m not going to light my Hair on fire or attack the Democrats and Obama. He will just sit there and take it.
I’m with you. If the stinking republicans of this country continue down this road to ruin they can go by themselves. I will not be a part of it. No more voting for RINOS. NO MORE!!!
I’m for Newt!!!! And Willard is Obama lite....
We know.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.