Romney wins key primary in native Michigan–media

DETROIT — Republican Mitt Romney won a crucial presidential primary in his native Michigan Tuesday, avoiding an upset that could have severely dented his White House hopes, TV projections showed.

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney waves at his election night party in Novi, Mich., Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. CARLOS OSORIO/AP PHOTO

The slim victory margin in the state he was born in — he led rival Rick Santorum by 41 percent to 37 percent in the latter stages of the count — will do little to dispel lingering doubts about his bid to oust President Barack Obama in November.

Santorum, who has surged into the lead in national polls, could even still end up winning a larger share of the 30 delegates in the state, which awards them proportionately, arguing that he also had a win of sorts.

Romney was born and grew up in Michigan, where his father was governor, so a loss would have been a huge embarrassment for a supposed frontrunner who has had trouble connecting with core Republican voters.

He easily won the other primary battle of the night, in Arizona, which had always been considered a stronghold for him as a significant percentage of the population there share his Mormon faith.

Having clinched both states, he claims the crucial momentum going into “Super Tuesday” — on March 6 — when 10 states vote on a pivotal day in the race to see who takes on Obama in the general election on November 6.