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Mitt Romney nears wins in Arizona and Michigan | |
(40 minutes later) | |
US exit polls have put Republican Mitt Romney on course for an Arizona primary win, and he is holding a narrow lead in the crucial Michigan presidential poll. | |
Arizona exit surveys showed 44% support for Mr Romney and 27% for Mr Santorum. | |
With 50% of Michigan's results now in, Mr Romney is ahead of Mr Santorum by 40% to 36%. | |
Michigan is seen as vital for Mr Romney, who was born in the state but has had a hard time connecting with conservative voters there. | Michigan is seen as vital for Mr Romney, who was born in the state but has had a hard time connecting with conservative voters there. |
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Congressman Ron Paul did not compete in Arizona and Michigan, focusing on contests scheduled for next week. | Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Congressman Ron Paul did not compete in Arizona and Michigan, focusing on contests scheduled for next week. |
Exit polling suggested Mr Gingrich would win 16% in Arizona, with Mr Paul on 11%. | Exit polling suggested Mr Gingrich would win 16% in Arizona, with Mr Paul on 11%. |
In Michigan, Mr Paul has won 11% of the vote so far, with 7% for Mr Gingrich. | In Michigan, Mr Paul has won 11% of the vote so far, with 7% for Mr Gingrich. |
Michigan battle | Michigan battle |
If his win is confirmed Mr Romney will be awarded all of Arizona's 29 presidential nominating delegates. A win in Michigan would not mean the overall winner takes all the state's 30 delegates, as a district-based system is in place in the Wolverine State. | |
The projected Arizona win comes after a barely contested race there, with campaign resources mainly deployed elsewhere in recent weeks. | |
That contrasts with an expensive, hard-fought campaign in Michigan, where Mr Romney and an independent committee supporting him spent almost $4m (£2.5m) in advertising. | |
On Tuesday, Mr Romney appeared to acknowledge that he has had trouble winning over conservative voters in a state where he was expected to do well. | |
He said his disconnect with the party's right-wing stemmed from his unwillingness to make "incendiary" comments. | |
In the end, exit polling in both states showed that about half of voters "strongly" backed the candidate they voted for. | In the end, exit polling in both states showed that about half of voters "strongly" backed the candidate they voted for. |
In Michigan, the state's primary rules allow non-Republicans to register as party members and vote in the primary - meaning that around 10% of all voters identified themselves as Democrats. | |
Tuesday's two primaries were the first test for Mr Santorum since a three-state sweep in primary and caucus earlier in February. | |
Mr Romney won earlier contests in New Hampshire and Florida, but had struggled in recent weeks. | |
The former Massachusetts governor currently has 152 delegates, compared to Mr Santorum's 72, with 1,144 needed to secure the nomination. |