Michigan Nod Goes To Native Son; McCain Does Well Despite Being Outspent

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney -- son of former three-time Michigan Gov. and former American Motors Chair George Romney -- won the Michigan primary with about 4-in-10 votes cast (three-quarters reporting). This is his first major win, although he placed second in both Iowa and New Hampshire.

New Hampshire winner Sen. John McCain (AZ) captured 3-in-10 votes. Following a distant third, as in New Hampshire, Iowa winner Mike Huckabee had only about 1.6-in-10 votes.

Rep. Ron Paul, with single digits, finished in fourth position, as he has throughout the primaries. Although New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was tied in polling earlier in the year, he continues to finish behind Paul; his campaign is on life support.

Given Romney's favorite son status -- and the amount of money he spent on advertising in the state (he spent more than $2 million versus McCain's $360,000 and Huckabee's $40,000) -- his victory over McCain seems forced, hollow. Also, given that Romney is governor of what is arguably one of the most liberal states in the Union, it seems ironic that Romney took half of the 1-in-4 voters who call themselves "very conservative."

Talk about an eyebrow-raiser. Even though his dad was chair of AMC, and he's a millionaire several times over who is helping finance his campaign for the White House to the tune of millions, Romney ended his Michigan commercials with this tagline:

This makes more sense! Huckabee is taking a potshot at Romney by ending his Michigan commercials with this tagline:

I approved this message because I believe most Americans want the next president to remind them of the guy they work with, not the guy who laid them off.

The economy was top-of-mind with Michigan voters on Tuesday. Romney demonstrated his willingness to say anything for a vote -- and to put the best interests of the nation second to telling people what they want to hear -- when he criticized federal fuel efficiency standards and promised auto jobs would return to the state.

In 2000, 17 percent of those voting in the Michigan Republican primary were Democrats and 35 percent were independents. This year, exit poll data suggest only 7 percent were Democrats and 21 percent were independents, according to AP.

Romney spent $3 million in South Carolina in 2007. He had been spending $280,000 a week, but pulled some money for the push in Michigan.