Mitt, Rick to Nearly Split Michigan Delegates

Santorum takes votes from north, west of state
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 29, 2012 3:55 AM CST
Mitt, Rick to Nearly Split Michigan Delegates
Rick Santorum speaks at his primary election night party, in Grand Rapids as his daughter, Elizabeth right listens.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Rick Santorum narrowly lost the popular vote in Michigan's GOP primary, but he has a consolation prize: nearly half of the state's delegates. Santorum, who won six congressional districts in the north and west of the state, will have at least 12 of the state's 30 voting delegates at the Republican National Convention, while Mitt Romney will have at least 14, according to the Detroit Free Press. Romney now has a total of 163 delegates, while Santorum has 83 delegates, Newt Gingrich has 32, and Ron Paul has 19.

Exit polls showed that the biggest issue on voters' minds was jobs, and close to half of those who listed that as their first priority picked Romney. Santorum won the votes of close to half of those who called themselves very conservative—but Romney did better among those who called themselves somewhat conservative, moderate, or liberal. Many expressed frustration with the long and bruising battle among the candidates. "I was almost half tempted to write in Mickey Mouse," said one voter in western Michigan. She picked Romney instead. (More Rick Santorum 2012 stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X