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| Michigan polls end in tight vote | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Polls have closed in the US state of Michigan, in a presidential primary election that may prove pivotal in the battle among Republican candidates. | |
| 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 as votes are counted, Mitt Romney, who was raised locally, will hope for a boost to his White House campaign. | |
| 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. |
| The Democrats are instead focusing their energies on their next contest in Nevada, and are set to hold a televised debate in Las Vegas on Tuesday evening. | The Democrats are instead focusing their energies on their next contest in Nevada, and are set to hold a televised debate in Las Vegas on Tuesday evening. |
| Michigan voters on the issues that concern them and who they back in the White House raceIn pictures | Michigan voters on the issues that concern them and who they back in the White House raceIn pictures |
| Final polls in Michigan closed at 2100 local time (0200 GMT on Wednesday), an hour after most polls in the state. Early results were expected soon afterwards. | |
| 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. |
| Analysts predict that about 20% of eligible voters will have turned out at the ballot box. | Analysts predict that about 20% of eligible voters will have turned out at the ballot box. |
| The BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in Michigan says there has been little of the sense of excitement that characterised the primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire. | The BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in Michigan says there has been little of the sense of excitement that characterised the primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire. |
| This seems partly to be down to the bitter cold and snowy weather, he says, and partly because the result of the Democratic vote will count for nothing. | This seems partly to be down to the bitter cold and snowy weather, he says, and partly because the result of the Democratic vote will count for nothing. |
| Some Democratic voters say they are choosing to vote in the Republican primary for Mr McCain, our correspondent adds, in order to feel their voice may make a difference. | Some Democratic voters say they are choosing to vote in the Republican primary for Mr McCain, our correspondent adds, in order to feel their voice may make a difference. |
| Early exit polls conducted for the Associated Press and US TV networks suggest that independent voters may play less of a role in this vote than they did in 2000, however, when they helped Mr McCain win the state over then-candidate George W Bush. | Early exit polls conducted for the Associated Press and US TV networks suggest that independent voters may play less of a role in this vote than they did in 2000, however, when they helped Mr McCain win the state over then-candidate George W Bush. |
| Governor's son | Governor's son |
| Mr McCain has risen up the national polls, including those that pit him against likely Democratic nominees. | Mr McCain has risen up the national polls, including those that pit him against 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 Q&A: Michigan primaryMichigan state profile | 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 Q&A: Michigan primaryMichigan state profile |
| Despite his victory in New Hampshire, Mr McCain needs more primary wins to be close to securing the Republican nomination for November's presidential election, and a victory in Michigan would be a necessary boost. | Despite his victory in New Hampshire, Mr McCain needs more primary wins to be close to securing the Republican nomination for November's presidential election, and a victory in Michigan would be a necessary boost. |
| He won Michigan in his 2000 presidential bid, but opinion polls suggest the 2008 race in the state is too close to call. | He won Michigan in his 2000 presidential bid, but opinion polls suggest the 2008 race in the state is too close to call. |
| Speaking at a polling station in Traverse City early on Tuesday, Mr McCain said: "We're confident because of the enthusiasm at the town hall meetings and the rallies but we've got a long way to go." | Speaking at a polling station in Traverse City early on Tuesday, Mr McCain said: "We're confident because of the enthusiasm at the town hall meetings and the rallies but we've got a long way to go." |
| Voter Casey Greggs, from Lansing, told the BBC he had decided to back Mr McCain. | Voter Casey Greggs, from Lansing, told the BBC he had decided to back Mr McCain. |
| "Normally I favour the Democrats a little bit more but I favour him this time," he said. "I am a Vietnam vet and so is he, and I have a son in the Marines now, so it means a lot to me to have somebody up there who understands the military." | "Normally I favour the Democrats a little bit more but I favour him this time," he said. "I am a Vietnam vet and so is he, and I have a son in the Marines now, so it means a lot to me to have somebody up there who understands the military." |
| Meanwhile, Mr Romney told supporters at a rally in Grand Rapids that he believed Michigan was ready to "vote for a Romney again". | Meanwhile, Mr Romney told supporters at a rally in Grand Rapids that he believed Michigan was ready to "vote for a Romney again". |
| "This is the day that's going to change, I believe, the politics of our nation," he said. | "This is the day that's going to change, I believe, the politics of our nation," he said. |
| Mr Romney failed to win both in New Hampshire and in Iowa, despite heavy spending and good organisation. | Mr Romney failed to win both in New Hampshire and in Iowa, despite heavy spending and good organisation. |
| But he may benefit from his strong local connections in Michigan - his father George was governor in the 1960s, 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 in the 1960s, 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%. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY This is going to be a long, wringing, torturous process Nya, US Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY This is going to be a long, wringing, torturous process Nya, US Send us your comments |
| Both Mr McCain and Mr Romney have spoken of the need to revive Michigan's economy, although they have outlined different strategies. | Both Mr McCain and Mr Romney have spoken of the need to revive Michigan's economy, although they have outlined different strategies. |
| Third in the polls is former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucus less than a fortnight ago. | Third in the polls is former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucus less than a fortnight ago. |
| He has said he is the only Republican candidate who understands the struggles of working-class people in Michigan. | He has said he is the only Republican candidate who understands the struggles of working-class people in Michigan. |
| Other big names, like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, have not focused on Michigan, campaigning instead in states that hold their elections later. | Other big names, like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, have not focused on Michigan, campaigning instead in states that hold their elections later. |
| Showdown | Showdown |
| The Democratic Party denied Michigan the right to send delegates to its 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 convention - when the party's presidential candidate will be chosen - because the state party chose to hold its primary early. |
| Mitt Romney says he has the skills to revive Michigan's economy | Mitt Romney says he has the skills to revive Michigan's economy |
| Hillary Clinton's name remains on the state's Democratic ballot-paper but Barack Obama and John Edwards have removed theirs. | Hillary Clinton's name remains on the state's Democratic ballot-paper but Barack Obama and John Edwards have removed theirs. |
| Most of the party's hopefuls are, instead, focusing their energies on the caucuses in Nevada on Saturday and South Carolina's primary on 26 January. | Most of the party's hopefuls are, instead, focusing their energies on the caucuses in Nevada on Saturday and South Carolina's primary on 26 January. |
| Tuesday's debate will be the first showdown between Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama since her campaign gained momentum with her surprise win in New Hampshire last week. | Tuesday's debate will be the first showdown between Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama since her campaign gained momentum with her surprise win in New Hampshire last week. |
| Recent opinion polls have shown Mr Edwards only narrowly trailing the two frontrunners in Nevada. | Recent opinion polls have shown Mr Edwards only narrowly trailing the two frontrunners in Nevada. |
| The debate also comes after Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama moved to tone down a controversy that sparked sharp exchanges between them regarding race and the legacy of the civil rights movement. | The debate also comes after Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama moved to tone down a controversy that sparked sharp exchanges between them regarding race and the legacy of the civil rights movement. |