February 28, 2012 Michigan Presidential Primary 

revised July 9, 2012


Reactions:  Romney  |  Santorum, (2)  ||  Michigan Democratic Party

Michigan was long seen as a sure win for Mitt Romney.  It was his home state, and in the months leading up to the primary his campaign amassed a multitude of endorsements.  Then Rick Santorum received a boost from wins on February 7 and suddenly Michigan was seen as in play.  An email from Freedom's Defense Fund, a group supporting Santorum, noted that, "Mitt Romney is vulnerable - and if he loses his home state of Michigan on Tuesday, he might be toast."  In addition to competition from Santorum, Romney faced a steady barrage from labor and progressive groups (1, 2, 3, 4) riled up by his "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" position, which he set out in a Nov. 2008 op-ed in The New York Times (>).  There was also an effort by progressives, Operation Hilarity, to encourage Democrats to vote for Rick Santorum in order to stretch out the Republican nominating contest; it is not clear what impact that had.  In any event when the votes were tallied Romney managed a win; as he stated in his primary night remarks, “We didn’t win by a lot, but we won by enough and that’s all that counts.”


Republican Primary
official

BACHMANN
 CAIN
 GINGRICH
 		HUNTSMAN
 JOHNSON
 KARGER
 PAUL PERRY
 ROEMER
 ROMNEY
 		SANTORUM
 		UNCOMM.
 TOTAL

1,735
0.15%
 1,211
0.10%
 65,027
5.46%
 1,674
0.14%
 458
0.03%
 1,180
0.10%
 115,911
9.72%
 		1,816
0.15%
 1,784
0.15%
 409,522
34.37%
 377,372
31.68%
 18,809
1.58%
 1,191,386

By comparison, 869,169 Michiganders participated in the Jan. 15, 2008 Michigan Republican presidential primary.  Mitt Romney obtained 338,316 votes (38.92%), John McCain 257,985 (29.68%), Mike Huckabee 139,764 (16.08%), and Ron Paul 54,475 (6.27%).

Romney carried 30 counties to 53 for Santorum.  Key to his success was Oakland County, which accounted for about 15% of total votes cast (179,688) and which he carried by 74,659 votes (41.55%) to 42,988 votes (23.92%) for Santorum.

Romney: Alcone, Antrim, Bay, Calhoun, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Eaton, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Huron (by 3 votes), Ingham, Iosco, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Leelanau, Livingston, Mackinac (by 1 vote), Macomb, Manistee, Midland, Montmorency, Oakland, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Schoolcraft (by 4 votes), Washtenaw, Wayne.

Santorum: Alger, Allegan, Alpena, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Benzie (by 5 votes), Berrien, Branch, Cass, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Delta, Dickinson, Genesse, Gladwin, Gogebic, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Houghton, Ionia, Iron, Isabella, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw (by 1 vote), Lake, Lapeer, Lenawee, Luce (by 8 votes), Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Missaukee, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Osceola, Oscoda, Ottawa, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Van Buren, Wexford.

Democratic Primary (not used for delegate selection)
Barack Obama 174,054, Uncomm. 20,833.

Activity
Secretary of State: Voters urged to participate in presidential primary election (Feb. 21)

MIGOP: Schostak Slams Michael Moore & Organized Attempts to Undermine the Michigan Republican Primary (Feb. 28)

Daily Kos: Operation Hilarity email (Feb. 27)

Freedom's Defense Fund email (Feb. 24)

UAW, allies, elected officials hold event on Friday, Feb. 24, with message for Mitt Romney

SBA List: Social Conservatives to Kick-Off Michigan Bus Tour Supporting Rick Santorum for President (Feb. 22)

Progress Michigan Launches 'Let Romney Go Bankrupt' (Feb. 16)

Your Money, Your Vote: The Republican Presidential Debate, Rochester, MI (Nov. 9, 2011)

Background
On Oct. 4, 2011 Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation setting the primary date on Feb. 28. >

On Aug. 13, 2011, the Michigan Republican State Committee voted for a closed primary. > 

On Nov. 15, 2011 the Michigan Republican State Committee submitted a list of 11 candidates to appear on the ballot. [PDF]

Michigan Democrats will be selecting their delegates starting with caucuses on May 5, 2012. 1, 2[PDF]

FAQ from Secretary of State [PDF]