NPR: Romney Looks to Michigan to Save His Campaign

Romney Looks to Michigan to Save His Campaign

Novelist William Faulkner once said you can't go home again. But going home may be Mitt Romney's last hope.

The former governor of Massachusetts was born and raised in Michigan, the site of the next Republican primary. His father was once the state's governor who also ran for president. (Interesting fact - George Romney was one of the few men to run for U.S. president who was born outside the U.S. He was born in Mexico, but to American parents and so was immediately considered a U.S. citizen.) And so Romney hopes his old home state can help revive his faltering campaign.

"I think I can connect with Michigan," Romney said yesterday, before his loss to McCain. "Michigan is very personal for me." Romney said he plans to stay in the race at least through Feb. 5, when 22 states hold primaries.

Michigan could be a race between Romney and Sen. John McCain. The Detroit Free Press reports that both men plan "to spend much of the next six days shuttling between western and southeastern Michigan for rallies, town halls and speeches." Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has a speech at the Detroit Economic Club on Friday, which is his only scheduled stop in the state so far. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is skipping the state altogether to campaign in Florida and South Carolina. Texas Rep. Ron Paul's website does not currently list any events featuring Paul in Michigan over the next week.

Romney did get an endorsement today from a prominent Michigan businessman and personality. NPR's Scott Horsley reports that Tom Monaghan announced that he is supporting Romney. Monaghan is the founder of Domino's Pizza, Ave Maria College (a conservative Catholic liberal arts institution), and former owner of the Detroit Tigers baseball team. For Monaghan, a prominent conservative Catholic to endorse Romney, a Mormon, is a significant boost for his campaign.

Now, as Scott observes, if he can only promise to help deliver the election to Romney in 30 minutes or less ...

Update: The Associated Press reports that Romney has pulled his advertising from South Carolina and Florida in order to focus more on Michigan. "We feel the best strategy is to focus our paid messaging in Michigan," Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said Wednesday.

3:07 PM ET | 01- 9-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

This is not Romney's last stand. He has more support than you want to give him credit for. He has more votes and delegates!

Sent by Sue | 9:03 PM ET | 01-11-2008

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