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Citing the economy, Michigan votes for Mitt Romney

  • Story Highlights
  • Among those polled, 55 percent said the economy was their top concern
  • 18 percent cited the war in Iraq and 14 percent said illegal immigration
  • Auto industry shutdowns contributed to 7.4 percent unemployment in Michigan
  • 68 percent of Michigan voters called economy "not good" or "poor"
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DETROIT, Michigan (CNN) -- With fears about the economy on their minds, Michigan Republicans looked to a native son who touted his credentials as a business leader in Tuesday's GOP primary.

CNN on Tuesday night projected Mitt Romney would win the primary that many observers felt was necessary to keep the former Massachusetts governor's presidential bid alive.

Having suffered disappointing second-place finishes in the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucuses, Romney had said Michigan "was not do or die" for his presidential bid. But he campaigned like it was -- pulling advertising in other states and pouring more than $2 million into Michigan ads.

His closest rival on that front, McCain, spent $359,000.

An overwhelming number of voters in the primary said the economy was the most important issue impacting their vote, results from early exit polling suggest.

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Among those polled, 55 percent said the economy was their top concern. Eighteen percent cited the war in Iraq and 14 percent said illegal immigration was their key issue.

Talk about the economy virtually dominated the campaign's debate in Michigan -- where auto industry shutdowns have contributed to a 7.4 percent unemployment rate that nearly doubles the national rate.

Only 30 percent of those voters said the national economy is "excellent" or "good" while 68 percent called it "not good" or "poor" -- dramatic numbers among Republican voters during a Republican presidential administration.

Romney, McCain and Huckabee all floated economic reform ideas in the days leading up to the vote -- from McCain's call for job re-training to Huckabee's plan for a national sales tax to replace the federal income tax to Romney's promise to "herald a new day for Michigan" by creating new jobs.

"Mitt Romney ran a campaign as the CEO -- he ran a campaign as the native son in Michigan," said CNN political analyst Gloria Borger. "And he spoke to people on the economic issues for the first time."

McCain, who came from the middle of the pack to win in New Hampshire, polled the best among voters who said they were the most sour on the economy, according to polling. Thirty-five percent of those who called the national economy "poor" said they voted for McCain, compared to 17 percent for both Romney and Huckabee.

But those who called it "not good" favored Romney with 35 percent of the votes while those who thought the national economy is "good" sided with him 42 percent of the time.

Only 1 percent of respondents called the national economy "excellent."

The numbers also give a hint at a diverse electorate on a day when Democrats -- whose national party invalidated Michigan's primary results because the state pushed the date of its vote earlier than was approved -- were holding a primary in name only.

Romney may actually have also gotten a small boost from an unlikely source -- liberal Democrats.

Michigan has an open primary system, meaning people don't have to register as members of a party but may vote in whichever election they choose.

Seven percent of voters polled identified themselves as Democrats and 25 percent called themselves independents.

McCain, who appeals largely to independents, was hoping to benefit from that turnout. But with Hillary Clinton as the only frontrunner on the Democratic ballot, Democrats were being urged from some quarters to cross over and vote for his main rival.

The former Massachusetts governor had so far won only the lightly-regarded Wyoming primary and some pundits suggest that if he didn't win Michigan -- where he has sunk millions of dollars into advertising -- that his campaign could be on the ropes.

In a January 10 post titled "Let's Have Some Fun in Michigan," Markos Moulitsas wrote on his popular liberal site, The Daily Kos, that Michigan Democrats should help Romney.

"We want Romney in, because the more Republican candidates we have fighting it out, trashing each other with negative ads and spending tons of money, the better it is for us," he said. "We want Mitt to stay in the race, and to do that, we need him to win in Michigan."

Forty-six percent of poll respondents said they are either dissatisfied or angry with the Bush administration -- the same number that said they have a negative opinion of the Republican president.

A majority of the voters -- 57 percent -- said Romney's ties to Michigan were not important in their decision.

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Huckabee, the first major candidate to speak after results started coming in, was looking ahead to South Carolina, where he was already campaigning hoping to rebound in the first southern primary in the campaign.

"It looks like I won Iowa, John McCain won New Hampshire and Mitt Romney won Michigan," he said, telling supporters he was pleased with a third-place finish after being outspent 50-1 by Romney in Michigan. "And, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to win South Carolina." E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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