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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Key primary dawns for Republicans | Key primary dawns for Republicans |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The state of Michigan is holding a primary election which could make or break some of the contenders for the Republican presidential nomination. | The state of Michigan is holding a primary election which could make or break some of the contenders for the Republican presidential nomination. |
| Senator John McCain hopes to translate an opinion poll surge into a victory to add to his New Hampshire win last week. | Senator John McCain hopes to translate an opinion poll surge into a victory to add to his New Hampshire win last week. |
| But for Mitt Romney, raised locally, defeat would suggest he lacks the voter appeal to reach the White House. | But for Mitt Romney, raised locally, defeat would suggest he lacks the voter appeal to reach the White House. |
| Michigan does not figure in the race for the Democratic nomination because of a party dispute over scheduling. | Michigan does not figure in the race for the Democratic nomination because of a party dispute over scheduling. |
| Few people thought Michigan would matter, BBC North America editor Justin Webb reports. | Few people thought Michigan would matter, BBC North America editor Justin Webb reports. |
| But the wild ride of the 2008 primary season has brought the main Republican candidates to this depressed car manufacturing state in a desperate effort to give their campaigns some momentum, he says. | But the wild ride of the 2008 primary season has brought the main Republican candidates to this depressed car manufacturing state in a desperate effort to give their campaigns some momentum, he says. |
| Governor's son | Governor's son |
| Mr McCain is flying up the national polls, including those that pit him against the likely Democratic nominees. | Mr McCain is flying up the national polls, including those that pit him against the likely Democratic nominees. |
| KEY DATES FOR CANDIDATES 15 Jan: Michigan primary19 Jan: Nevada caucuses; South Carolina primary (Rep)26 Jan: South Carolina primary (Dem)29 Jan: Florida primary5 Feb: some 20 states including California, New York, New Jersey href="/1/hi/world/americas/7188111.stm">Q&A: Michigan primary | |
| He is essentially evenly matched against both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, our North America editor reports. | He is essentially evenly matched against both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, our North America editor reports. |
| However, despite his victory in New Hampshire, he needs a few more primary wins to be close to securing the Republican nomination and a victory in Michigan would be a necessary boost. | However, despite his victory in New Hampshire, he needs a few more primary wins to be close to securing the Republican nomination and a victory in Michigan would be a necessary boost. |
| He won Michigan in his 2000 presidential bid, but opinion polls suggest his 2008 race against Mr Romney in the state is too close to call. | He won Michigan in his 2000 presidential bid, but opinion polls suggest his 2008 race against Mr Romney in the state is too close to call. |
| Mr Romney failed to win both in New Hampshire and in the Iowa caucuses, despite heavy spending and good organisation. | Mr Romney failed to win both in New Hampshire and in the Iowa caucuses, despite heavy spending and good organisation. |
| But he may benefit from his strong local connections in Michigan -his father George was governor from 1963 until 1969 and his wife was also born in the state. | But he may benefit from his strong local connections in Michigan -his father George was governor from 1963 until 1969 and his wife was also born in the state. |
| Jobs fears | Jobs fears |
| Analysts say the car-making state's fragile economy is the main issue for Michigan. | Analysts say the car-making state's fragile economy is the main issue for Michigan. |
| It has been hard hit by a downturn in the automobile industry, and now has the highest unemployment rate in the US at 7.4%. | It has been hard hit by a downturn in the automobile industry, and now has the highest unemployment rate in the US at 7.4%. |
| The top candidates all promised to help car-workers"The auto industry and all its jobs do not have to be lost," Mr Romney told an audience in Detroit on Monday. | The top candidates all promised to help car-workers"The auto industry and all its jobs do not have to be lost," Mr Romney told an audience in Detroit on Monday. |
| "And I am one man who will work to transform the industry and save those jobs." | "And I am one man who will work to transform the industry and save those jobs." |
| Mr McCain promised to help retrain workers if elected president in November. | Mr McCain promised to help retrain workers if elected president in November. |
| "We're not going to leave these people behind," he told students at Kalamazoo. | "We're not going to leave these people behind," he told students at Kalamazoo. |
| Third in the polls is former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucus. | Third in the polls is former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucus. |
| In a rally in Augusta, he said he was the only Republican candidate who understood the struggles of working-class people in Michigan. | In a rally in Augusta, he said he was the only Republican candidate who understood the struggles of working-class people in Michigan. |
| Staying away | Staying away |
| Other big names, like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, are not taking part in Michigan, holding their fire for later in the national campaign. | Other big names, like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, are not taking part in Michigan, holding their fire for later in the national campaign. |
| The Democratic Party denied Michigan the right to send delegates to its final convention - when the party's presidential candidate will be chosen - because the state party chose to hold its primary early. | The Democratic Party denied Michigan the right to send delegates to its final convention - when the party's presidential candidate will be chosen - because the state party chose to hold its primary early. |
| Mrs Clinton's name remains on the state's Democratic ballot-paper but Mr Obama and John Edwards have removed theirs. | Mrs Clinton's name remains on the state's Democratic ballot-paper but Mr Obama and John Edwards have removed theirs. |
| Most of the party's hopefuls are, instead, focusing their energies on the contests in Nevada on Saturday and South Carolina on 26 January. | Most of the party's hopefuls are, instead, focusing their energies on the contests in Nevada on Saturday and South Carolina on 26 January. |