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| Romney secures Michigan victory | Romney secures Michigan victory |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Republican Mitt Romney has won his party's presidential primary in the US state of Michigan, throwing the race for the nomination wide open. | Republican Mitt Romney has won his party's presidential primary in the US state of Michigan, throwing the race for the nomination wide open. |
| Mr Romney, who had lost the two previous contests, said his win was "the beginning of a comeback". | Mr Romney, who had lost the two previous contests, said his win was "the beginning of a comeback". |
| Senator John McCain, who came second, congratulated Mr Romney, saying he had worked hard to ensure he won the vote. | Senator John McCain, who came second, congratulated Mr Romney, saying he had worked hard to ensure he won the vote. |
| Michigan did not figure in the race for the Democratic nomination because of a party dispute over scheduling. | Michigan did not figure in the race for the Democratic nomination because of a party dispute over scheduling. |
| MICHIGAN PRIMARY: RESULTS Mitt Romney: 39%John McCain: 30%Mike Huckabee: 16%Ron Paul: 6%Fred Thompson: 4%Rudy Giuliani: 3% In pictures: Michigan primary | MICHIGAN PRIMARY: RESULTS Mitt Romney: 39%John McCain: 30%Mike Huckabee: 16%Ron Paul: 6%Fred Thompson: 4%Rudy Giuliani: 3% In pictures: Michigan primary |
| The result revived Mr Romney's campaign, after defeats in Iowa on 3 January and in New Hampshire five days later, despite spending heavily and having a better campaign organisation than his rivals. | The result revived Mr Romney's campaign, after defeats in Iowa on 3 January and in New Hampshire five days later, despite spending heavily and having a better campaign organisation than his rivals. |
| Speaking to his supporters in Michigan, Mr Romney, a wealthy businessman and former Massachusetts governor, said: "Only a week ago a win looked like it was impossible, but then you got out and told America what they needed to hear. | Speaking to his supporters in Michigan, Mr Romney, a wealthy businessman and former Massachusetts governor, said: "Only a week ago a win looked like it was impossible, but then you got out and told America what they needed to hear. |
| "Tonight marks the beginning of a comeback, a comeback for America." | "Tonight marks the beginning of a comeback, a comeback for America." |
| 'Great race' | 'Great race' |
| Mr McCain, who won in New Hampshire, was quick to congratulate Mr Romney. | Mr McCain, who won in New Hampshire, was quick to congratulate Mr Romney. |
| I think we've shown them we don't mind a fight John McCain href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7190000/newsid_7191000?redirect=7191004.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">McCain's reaction | |
| But the 71-year-old Arizona senator pledged to carry on the battle on the campaign trail. | But the 71-year-old Arizona senator pledged to carry on the battle on the campaign trail. |
| "For a minute there in New Hampshire I thought this campaign might be getting easier. But you know what? We've gotten pretty good at doing things the hard way too. | "For a minute there in New Hampshire I thought this campaign might be getting easier. But you know what? We've gotten pretty good at doing things the hard way too. |
| "And I think we've shown them we don't mind a fight," he said. | "And I think we've shown them we don't mind a fight," he said. |
| Mike Huckabee, the winner in Iowa, also congratulated Mr Romney on having "won a great race". | Mike Huckabee, the winner in Iowa, also congratulated Mr Romney on having "won a great race". |
| But he made clear he was already looking forward to the next contest, in South Carolina on Saturday. | But he made clear he was already looking forward to the next contest, in South Carolina on Saturday. |
| Mr Romney may carry momentum from Michigan to South Carolina | Mr Romney may carry momentum from Michigan to South Carolina |
| "We're going to make it real clear, that the first-in-the-South primary is going to give their support to the first-in-the-South candidate," he said. | "We're going to make it real clear, that the first-in-the-South primary is going to give their support to the first-in-the-South candidate," he said. |
| Mr Huckabee is a former Arkansas governor. | Mr Huckabee is a former Arkansas governor. |
| Mr Huckabee and Mr McCain both headed to South Carolina before the Michigan results were tallied. Mr Romney was expected to follow them there. | Mr Huckabee and Mr McCain both headed to South Carolina before the Michigan results were tallied. Mr Romney was expected to follow them there. |
| Race 'wide open' | Race 'wide open' |
| Mr Romney is likely to have benefited from his strong local connections in Michigan - his father George was governor in the 1960s, and his wife was also born in the state. | Mr Romney is likely to have benefited from his strong local connections in Michigan - his father George was governor in the 1960s, and his wife was also born in the state. |
| KEY DATES FOR CANDIDATES 19 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 19 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 |
| His business experience may also have played well in a state where the economy has become a big issue as the car industry struggles and job losses rise. | His business experience may also have played well in a state where the economy has become a big issue as the car industry struggles and job losses rise. |
| The BBC's North America editor Justin Webb says this was a good night for Mr Romney, but it does not mean he is the front-runner and the Republican race is so open that there is talk of it going on for months. | The BBC's North America editor Justin Webb says this was a good night for Mr Romney, but it does not mean he is the front-runner and the Republican race is so open that there is talk of it going on for months. |
| Mr McCain and Mr Huckabee are still in the hunt, while actor-politician Fred Thompson has been focussing heavily on South Carolina and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Florida, which holds its primary on 29 January. | Mr McCain and Mr Huckabee are still in the hunt, while actor-politician Fred Thompson has been focussing heavily on South Carolina and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Florida, which holds its primary on 29 January. |
| 'Uncommitted' voters | 'Uncommitted' voters |
| 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. |
| Of the Democratic frontrunners, none campaigned in the state, and only Hillary Clinton had her name on the ballot. | Of the Democratic frontrunners, none campaigned in the state, and only Hillary Clinton had her name on the ballot. |
| She won a majority of the votes cast, but a substantial number went to the ballot listing for "uncommitted". | She won a majority of the votes cast, but a substantial number went to the ballot listing for "uncommitted". |
| The campaigns for rivals Barack Obama and John Edwards had urged supporters to vote "uncommitted" to prevent Mrs Clinton seeming to make a clean sweep. | The campaigns for rivals Barack Obama and John Edwards had urged supporters to vote "uncommitted" to prevent Mrs Clinton seeming to make a clean sweep. |
| As the Michigan results came in, the Democratic candidates were taking part in a debate in Las Vegas, Nevada, where caucuses will be held on Saturday. | As the Michigan results came in, the Democratic candidates were taking part in a debate in Las Vegas, Nevada, where caucuses will be held on Saturday. |
| Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama promised to end their damaging dispute over racial politics. | Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama promised to end their damaging dispute over racial politics. |
| Mr Obama spoke of the importance of coming together as a people, while Mrs Clinton said: "We're all family in the Democratic party." | Mr Obama spoke of the importance of coming together as a people, while Mrs Clinton said: "We're all family in the Democratic party." |