It’s primary day in Michigan and Arizona. TPM will have live results, updates and analysis. Here are ten things you need to know today.
- Romney and Santorum in dead heat in Michigan: It’s they day of the Michigan primary and Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum are neck-and-neck. Public Policy Polling has Santorum up by one point after being down by two yesterday. Both were within the margin of error. The TPM Poll Average shows a photo finish.
- Santorum goes after Democratic voters in Michigan: Rick Santorum has decided to court the Democratic vote in Michigan. In robo calls that went out to Democrats Monday, the Santorum campaign urged Democrats to vote for Santorum as a way to punish Romney for his stance on the auto bailout. The robo calls sound like they come from a Democratic source — like the UAW — and callers have to wait till the end to realize who’s paying for the ads. With such a close race, it’s possible that Democrats voting for Santorum could affect the outcome.
- Romney calls Santorum robo calls ‘new low’: On Fox News Monday night, Mitt Romney called Santorum’s robo calls urging Democrats to vote for him a “dirty trick” and a “new low in this campaign.” On the same show, Santorum defended the tactic as an effort to appeal to Democrats both now and in the general.
- Newt camp wants harsher coverage of Romney: According to an email from the Gingrich campaign, two of its top advisors wrote a letter to the editors and publishers of newspapers in several upcoming primary states, asking them to hold Romney accountable for the “falsehoods” in his campaign, which present “an existential threat to the integrity of the American political process.”
- Gingrich is rooting for Romney Tuesday: Newt Gingrich wants to regain the coveted number two spot in the race from Rick Santorum and the mantle of the anti-Romney. On Monday, he told an audience that Santorum was a “big-labor Republican” and predicted he will lose in both Michigan and Arizona.
- In Michigan, candidates can win most votes but get fewer delegates: ABC News reports that because of Michigan’s tricky primary rules on allocating delegates, a candidate who receives the most votes doesn’t necessarily win the most delegates.
- GOP governors want candidates to talk about the economy: Gathered in Washington for the National Governors Association meeting, GOP governors on Monday agreed on one thing about the race: the candidates need to focus on the economy.
- Democrats form Super PAC to focus on Ohio: Two former aides to former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) are forming a Super PAC to bolster Democrats in the crucial swing state of Ohio in 2012. Called Ohians for Opportunity, one of its founders described the PAC as “another tool for progressives to get involved in Ohio.” In the crucial state with a crucial Senate election as well, Democrats will need the extra help.
- Santorum to appear on Laura Ingraham and Glenn Beck’s radio shows: Rick Santorum will appear on the Laura Ingraham and Glenn Beck radio shows on Tuesday before departing Michigan for a few hours to hold a rally in Perrysberg, Ohio, before an election night party in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- McCain will appear at Romney event in Arizona: Arizona Sen. and Romney surrogate John McCain will attend an election night rally for Romney in Arizona though Romney will be at another such rally in Michigan Tuesday.
