Santorum leads in Romney's home turf of Michigan

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Campaign 2012

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum arrives at a campaign rally Feb. 7, 2012, in Blaine, Minn.

(Credit: Getty Images)

Riding a wave of momentum after sweeping three Republican presidential contests last week, Rick Santorum is now leading Mitt Romney in Michigan, according to a new poll.

Santorum leads among likely voters in the Michigan's February 28 primary, with 33 percent, according to a new survey from American Research Group. Romney wins 27 percent support, while Newt Gingrich garners 21 percent and Ron Paul takes 12 percent.

Among likely Republican primary voters who say they will definitely vote in the primary, 36 percent back Santorum, while 25 percent support Romney. Santorum's lead widens more dramatically among self-identified Republicans. The former Pennsylvania senator takes 42 percent of that group's support, while Gingrich takes 24 percent and Romney wins 18 percent.

The survey, with a four-point margin of error, was conducted February 11-12, a few days after Santorum swept the contests in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado. Before Santorum's hat trick, polls showed Romney leading in Michigan.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, speaking at the Detroit Economic Club Monday, said that he'll endorse a GOP candidate next week, the Associated Press reports. However, he wouldn't say which candidate he'll endorse.

The state should be friendly ground for the former Massachusetts governor. Romney was born and raised in Michigan, and his father was CEO of American Motors Corporation and then the state's governor. In the 2008 Republican presidential primary, Romney won Michigan, topping John McCain 39 percent to 30 percent.

Michigan and Arizona are the next two states to weigh in on the GOP contest, followed by Washington state. Those contests are quickly followed by "Super Tuesday" on March 6, when 10 states weigh in.

With Super Tuesday quickly approaching, the candidates will have less time to dedicate to individual states, and the race will become more nationalized. Among Republican voters nationally, Santorum is virtually tied with Romney, according to a new Pew poll. Conducted February 8-12, 30 percent of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters favor Santorum while 28 percent favor Romney.

Sentiments could easily turn around before Super Tuesday -- Gingrich also experienced a surge of popularity in polls of GOP voters nationwide after winning the South Carolina primary, but he quickly fell behind again.

Still, as the GOP contest lingers on, some conservatives are getting anxious for the field to slim down, in order to avoid a brokered convention. The editors of the conservative magazine the National Review wrote on Monday that Gingrich should exit the race.

"It is not clear whether Gingrich remains in the race because he still believes he could become president next year or because he wants to avenge his wounded pride: an ambiguity that suggests the problem with him as a leader," they wrote.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by Lindag10 February 14, 2012 11:53 AM EST: The Republicans remind me of the horses on a merry-go-round. Up and down they all go as they run around in circles trying to convince voters they are the "real" conservative. LOL; Reply to this comment

by norcalruss February 14, 2012 2:26 AM EST

This should be no surprise that Willard the Waffler is trailing in Michigan after saying that auto industry should WITHER on the vine. Myth Zombie is a spoiled rich prick who has no compassion for the working class or the poor and thinks he can ride his daddy's coattails in Michigan. I suspect the folks up there will NOT see him as a favorite son but rather a turncoat cousin.

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by cattiej February 14, 2012 2:32 AM EST: good comment...I couldna said it better myself. You go Rich!


by noloyalisti February 14, 2012 1:17 AM EST: Sanitorium is just the latest flavor of the month. Unfortunately none of them are good flavors.; Reply to this comment


by THGdriver2 February 13, 2012 7:50 PM EST: It's the three stooges plus one at GOPville. I can't stand that socialist Nobama but I can't see myself voting for what the GOP is trotting out so far either. Unless there is a serious change this may be the first time I don't vote in a lot of years.; Reply to this comment

by kevjustice February 13, 2012 5:43 PM EST

i believe romney once said he would not have bailed out the auto industry! are you kidding? another crazy statement. no wonder he's losing in michigan.

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by ProgressNow February 13, 2012 6:19 PM EST: And the nation in general...


by ProgressNow February 13, 2012 4:55 PM EST: I have no problem with Sen Fecal-lube winning in Michigan, why?:

1) Mitt is flip-flopping lair of the first degree and deserves to lose his shirt!

2) Repubs deserve a huge pitiful loser like Santorum to represent what's left of their pitiful loser party.; Reply to this comment


by James-King February 13, 2012 4:42 PM EST: If you want a big government guy, Santo's your man. If you want liberty, Ron Paul is the man. If you want lower taxes, Ron Paul is the man. If you want fiscal sanity, Ron Paul is the man. If you want honesty and consistency, Ron Paul is the man. If you want a hypocritical Catholic, Slick Rick is your man. If you want the Pillsbury Doughboy, the Newster is your lying, cheating, flab. If you want to protect your borders and not another nation's borders, Ron Paul is the man. If you want a flip-flopping plastic Mormon, Mittens is your man. It all depends what you want. If you want more of the same, Mittens, the Newster, and Slick Rick will do. If you want constitutional strictness, Ron Paul is the ONLY sane choice.; Reply to this comment

by JEB726 February 13, 2012 4:24 PM EST

What happened to american sense of right and wrong? Have things gone so bad that they are willing to elect someone voted as one of the the most corrupt politician to the highest office in the land? America really needs God's blessing if this stupidity happens comes election time.

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by retiredgustav February 14, 2012 1:47 AM EST: mariannpepit.... Our problems started when te SCOTUS gave the election to Bush II. There is no doubt in my mind we would have ben better off with Al Gore as President. At least he would have had the sense not to cut taxes and go to war at the same time.

by scotttx February 13, 2012 4:19 PM EST

I have given up on the Republicans, I could care less who leads them but it won't be for Victory who ever it is, and I don't think I am alone, Sorry don't want to see them turn everything back to the way it was 100 years ago.

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by Lindag10 February 14, 2012 11:50 AM EST: mariann: ah one of those who long for the "good old days" I see. Of course we had segregation, pollution by all the manufacturers, rivers catching on fire, no OSHA, strip mining, no safety standards for products but why should ANYONE care about such trivial things as that.


by mountainstates1 February 13, 2012 4:04 PM EST: Romney's "home turf" is not Michigan. I grew up in Michigan. His dad was governor back in the 60's and left the office in shame after he said he was "brainwashed". Romney voted against bailing out the auto industry in 2008 after the Republicans tanked our economy. Believe me, Mitt won't have many voting fans among Detroit's blue collar base!; Reply to this comment