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Obama vs. Romney · Electoral College Map · Battle for Senate · Battle for House · Generic Ballot · Election Calendar · Latest 2012 Polls |
With just a handful of days to go until the Michigan primary, Mitt Romney has reclaimed the lead over the Republican field there, according to a pair of polls released Friday.
The former Massachusetts governor leads Rick Santorum, 40 percent to 34 percent, in a Rasmussen Reports survey of likely Republican primary voters. Santorum led in a Rasmussen poll released earlier this week by four points.
Texas Rep. Ron Paul attracts 10 percent of the support while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich garners 9 percent. There is some fluidity in this race: Though 60 percent of respondents say they are certain about whom they will support, 34 percent say they could change their minds by Tuesday's primary.
Both Romney and Santorum receive favorability scores of 68 percent. But voters see Romney as stronger in the general election: 74 percent say he could beat President Obama while 59 percent say the same about Santorum. Sixty-two percent think Romney will win the GOP nomination, while just 23 percent believe Santorum will be at the top of the ticket.
Santorum still polls well among the state's most conservative voters, with a 23-point lead over his rivals. Romney, though, holds a similar advantage among those who identify themselves as "somewhat conservative."
Michigan is viewed as a critical state for Romney, who grew up there and has been campaigning as a home state candidate. He has gained traction in recent days after lagging in the polls behind Santorum. He leads by 1.6 percent in the RCP average in the Wolverine State.
Meanwhile, a Mitchell Research/Rosetta Stone poll also shows Romney leading Santorum, but by a narrower margin, 36 percent to 33 percent. Paul gets 12 percent while Gingrich receives 9 percent.
Earlier this week, Mitchell Research and Rosetta Stone found Romney with a slim 32 percent to 30 percent lead over Santorum.
Romney has cut into Santorum's lead among evangelicals and among the most conservative voters. Earlier this week, Santorum held a double-digit lead among Tea Party supporters, but now the two men are tied.
Young voters are split between Romney and Santorum at 26 percent apiece. Santorum leads Romney among middle-aged voters, 38 percent to 34 percent, but Romney edges Santorum among seniors, 36 percent to 33 percent.
Men are virtually split between the two candidates. But Romney leads among women, 37 percent to 31 percent.
Both surveys were taken on Thursday, Feb. 23, the day after the four candidates faced off in a debate in Arizona.
Mitchell/Rosetta Stone surveyed 430 likely GOP primary voters. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.
Rasmussen surveyed 750 Republican primary voters. The sampling error for this poll is plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Voters head to the polls on Tuesday in Michigan and in Arizona.
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