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| Mitt Romney secures wins in Arizona and Michigan | Mitt Romney secures wins in Arizona and Michigan |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US Republican White House contender Mitt Romney has pulled off a double win in the Michigan and Arizona primaries. | US Republican White House contender Mitt Romney has pulled off a double win in the Michigan and Arizona primaries. |
| "We didn't win by a lot, but we won by enough and that's what counts," Mr Romney said in Michigan. | "We didn't win by a lot, but we won by enough and that's what counts," Mr Romney said in Michigan. |
| In Arizona, he leads with 47% of votes, and heads Rick Santorum in Michigan by 41% to 38% with 99% counted. | |
| Michigan was seen as vital for Mr Romney, born in the state where his father was governor, but had struggled to win over conservative voters. | Michigan was seen as vital for Mr Romney, born in the state where his father was governor, but had struggled to win over conservative voters. |
| Rick Santorum addressed supporters in Michigan, moments after he reportedly called Mr Romney to concede defeat, thanking voters for their support. | Rick Santorum addressed supporters in Michigan, moments after he reportedly called Mr Romney to concede defeat, thanking voters for their support. |
| 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. |
| Mr Gingrich was on course to poll 16% in Arizona, with Mr Paul on 8%. | Mr Gingrich was on course to poll 16% in Arizona, with Mr Paul on 8%. |
| In Michigan, Mr Paul has won 12% of the vote, with 7% for Mr Gingrich. | In Michigan, Mr Paul has won 12% of the vote, with 7% for Mr Gingrich. |
| Michigan battle | Michigan battle |
| Proclaiming his wins, Mitt Romney said he would hammer home a consistent campaign message in the coming weeks. | Proclaiming his wins, Mitt Romney said he would hammer home a consistent campaign message in the coming weeks. |
| "We need more jobs, less debt, and smaller government," Mr Romney said in a speech to supporters in Michigan. "We've got to hear that day-in and day-out." | "We need more jobs, less debt, and smaller government," Mr Romney said in a speech to supporters in Michigan. "We've got to hear that day-in and day-out." |
| Mitt Romney, it turns out, has had a good night, winning Arizona even more comfortably than most people thought, and fending off a strong challenge from Rick Santorum in Michigan. The Michigan win was far from convincing, but it was still a win. Combined with Arizona, it restores a sense of momentum to the Romney campaign. | Mitt Romney, it turns out, has had a good night, winning Arizona even more comfortably than most people thought, and fending off a strong challenge from Rick Santorum in Michigan. The Michigan win was far from convincing, but it was still a win. Combined with Arizona, it restores a sense of momentum to the Romney campaign. |
| Rick Santorum may still hold more appeal for Christian conservatives, but his failure to pull off a dramatic upset raises questions about the viability of his path to the nomination. This contest still has some way to go but Mitt Romney must now be feeling better about Super Tuesday, in a week's time, when 10 more states hold their votes. | Rick Santorum may still hold more appeal for Christian conservatives, but his failure to pull off a dramatic upset raises questions about the viability of his path to the nomination. This contest still has some way to go but Mitt Romney must now be feeling better about Super Tuesday, in a week's time, when 10 more states hold their votes. |
| He also criticised President Barack Obama for his economic policy and argued that the US "needs a recovery from this recovery". | He also criticised President Barack Obama for his economic policy and argued that the US "needs a recovery from this recovery". |
| "What we can't afford is four more years of Barack Obama with nothing to answer to." | "What we can't afford is four more years of Barack Obama with nothing to answer to." |
| Mr Santorum told supporters he came into "the backyard of his opponent" and did better than expected. | Mr Santorum told supporters he came into "the backyard of his opponent" and did better than expected. |
| Mr Romney will be awarded all of Arizona's 29 presidential nominating delegates, but will share Michigan's 30 delegates, as a district-based system is in place in the Wolverine State. | Mr Romney will be awarded all of Arizona's 29 presidential nominating delegates, but will share Michigan'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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | The former Massachusetts governor currently has 152 delegates, compared to Mr Santorum's 72, with 1,144 needed to secure the nomination. |