Romney wins primary races
NOVI – Mitt Romney scored a hard-fought primary triumph in his native state of Michigan and won in Arizona, dealing a blow to his chief Republican rival Rick Santorum and gaining precious momentum ahead of a crucial set of contests next week.
Romney's victories were the latest twist in a turbulent Republican primary campaign, and could cement his status as his party's front-runner to challenge President Barack Obama in the November presidential election. But he fell short of landing the knock-out punch needed to stop his top opponent in his tracks.
Romney is viewed as the candidate best positioned to beat Obama, and he has the backing of much of the Republican establishment. But Santorum has captured the heart of the party's conservative base, which has no doubt about the authenticity of his views on social issues such as abortion and considers Romney too moderate.
"We didn't win by a lot but we won by enough, and that's all that counts," Romney told cheering supporters in Michigan on Tuesday night. The double victories injected his campaign with new energy ahead of the 10- state contest known as Super Tuesday.
Santorum had hoped for a win in Michigan following his victories earlier this month in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri. He told supporters late Tuesday that a month ago " they didn't know who we are, but they do now." He was already campaigning in Ohio, one of next week's largest prizes, when the verdict came in from Michigan, and vowed to stay the conservative course he has set.