The Meaning Of Michigan

Mitt Romney wins Arizona and Michigan as the Republican primary race rolls on. What now?

It was a close call, way too close for comfort, but it went for Mitt Romney in Michigan last night.  Arizona, too.  Rick Santorum was left feeling the love, he said, but not a victory.  It has been a wild Republican primary season.

Stayed wild among the Michiganders.  Mitt called Rick a lightweight.  Charged dirty tricks.  Rick called Mitt a bully.  Asked Democrats for votes.  We had multiple Cadillacs and a Romney refusal to set his “hair on fire” for the right.  Here’s the question:  After all the fury, is the GOP lined up to mount a convincing challenge to Barack Obama?

This hour, On Point:  after Michigan.
-Tom Ashbrook

Janet Hook, political reporter Wall Street Journal

Kim Alfano, Republican strategist and president and CEO of Alfano Communications.

Ed Morrissey, a senior writer at the conservative blog HotAir.

Gail Chaddock, congressional correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor. Her article on Snowe's decision is here.

Wall Street Journal "Michigan's Republican presidential primary Tuesday is more than a test of Mitt Romney's ability to win his native state. It is a test of a central thesis of his campaign: He has the best chance of beating President Barack Obama."

Hot Air "Rick Santorum continues to lead a field which has tightened a bit since the last survey. Mitt Romney returns to second place, followed by Newt Gingrich, with Ron Paul far behind. The voter landscape is not that different from what we saw Pre-Florida, with Gingrich and Santorum swapping places in a race where the top three have bunched up at the top. "

Politico "At the core of their concern is the atmosphere of daily vituperation among the top candidates. Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich are now engaged in a seemingly constant knife fight, interrupted by only the sparest of positive, policy-oriented debate."