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| US Republicans Romney and Santorum in key polls | US Republicans Romney and Santorum in key polls |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum go head to head on Tuesday in two crucial primary votes to choose the Republican party's 2012 presidential candidate. | Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum go head to head on Tuesday in two crucial primary votes to choose the Republican party's 2012 presidential candidate. |
| Both candidates have been campaigning intensively over the past few days in Arizona and Michigan, with the latest opinion polls suggesting Mr Romney has a marginal lead in Michigan. | Both candidates have been campaigning intensively over the past few days in Arizona and Michigan, with the latest opinion polls suggesting Mr Romney has a marginal lead in Michigan. |
| Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are also candidates in both states. | Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are also candidates in both states. |
| Analysts say a victory in his home state of Michigan is key for Mr Romney. | Analysts say a victory in his home state of Michigan is key for Mr Romney. |
| Most polls were to open in Michigan at 07:00 local time (12:00 GMT) and an hour later in Arizona. | Most polls were to open in Michigan at 07:00 local time (12:00 GMT) and an hour later in Arizona. |
| Momentum | Momentum |
| On Monday, Mr Santorum confirmed that he had targeted Democrat voters in the state with an automated message criticising Mr Romney's record on bailouts for the automobile industry. | On Monday, Mr Santorum confirmed that he had targeted Democrat voters in the state with an automated message criticising Mr Romney's record on bailouts for the automobile industry. |
| Mr Romney played up his ties to Michigan, where his father was a former governor. He also called on his rival, who has made social issues central to his campaign, to focus on the economy. | Mr Romney played up his ties to Michigan, where his father was a former governor. He also called on his rival, who has made social issues central to his campaign, to focus on the economy. |
| Although he was initially seen as the frontrunner, Mr Romney has failed to connect with Republican voters, correspondents say. A loss in the state he grew up in would be a blow to his campaign, but he is expected to win in Arizona. | Although he was initially seen as the frontrunner, Mr Romney has failed to connect with Republican voters, correspondents say. A loss in the state he grew up in would be a blow to his campaign, but he is expected to win in Arizona. |
| Whoever wins in Michigan could gain the momentum ahead of Super Tuesday, when 10 states vote in primaries on 6 March. | Whoever wins in Michigan could gain the momentum ahead of Super Tuesday, when 10 states vote in primaries on 6 March. |
| Mr Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul are focusing their efforts on next week's vote. | Mr Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul are focusing their efforts on next week's vote. |
| The winner of the eventual nomination will go on to face President Barack Obama in the November election. | The winner of the eventual nomination will go on to face President Barack Obama in the November election. |
| Focus on economy | Focus on economy |
| After spending much of last week campaigning on social issues, on Monday Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, turned his focus on the economy. | After spending much of last week campaigning on social issues, on Monday Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, turned his focus on the economy. |
| He challenged former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum for putting social issues at the centre of his campaign, saying: "If the economy is going to be the issue we focus on, who has the experience to actually get this economy going again?" | He challenged former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum for putting social issues at the centre of his campaign, saying: "If the economy is going to be the issue we focus on, who has the experience to actually get this economy going again?" |
| Mr Romney, who used to run a successful private equity firm, told supporters at a campaign event that Mr Santorum was a nice guy but he would not be able to create jobs. | Mr Romney, who used to run a successful private equity firm, told supporters at a campaign event that Mr Santorum was a nice guy but he would not be able to create jobs. |
| "I understand why jobs go, why they come, I understand what happens to corporate profit, where it goes if the government takes it," Mr Romney told supporters. | "I understand why jobs go, why they come, I understand what happens to corporate profit, where it goes if the government takes it," Mr Romney told supporters. |
| "I think to create jobs it helps to have a guy as president who's had a job, and I have." | "I think to create jobs it helps to have a guy as president who's had a job, and I have." |
| Meanwhile, on the campaign trail, Mr Santorum told supporters it was a "joke" for Mr Romney to attack him for not being a real conservative. | Meanwhile, on the campaign trail, Mr Santorum told supporters it was a "joke" for Mr Romney to attack him for not being a real conservative. |
| The former senator also derided "climate science" and Wall Street bailouts - referring to legislative positions the former governor had supported. | The former senator also derided "climate science" and Wall Street bailouts - referring to legislative positions the former governor had supported. |
| He used an editorial in the Wall Street Journal to highlight his own principal economic initiatives. | He used an editorial in the Wall Street Journal to highlight his own principal economic initiatives. |
| In it, he took aim at his rival, saying Mr Romney was "attempting to distract from his record of tax and fee increases as governor of Massachusetts, poor job creation, and aggressive pursuit of earmarks", and that Mr Romney's plans did not go far enough. | In it, he took aim at his rival, saying Mr Romney was "attempting to distract from his record of tax and fee increases as governor of Massachusetts, poor job creation, and aggressive pursuit of earmarks", and that Mr Romney's plans did not go far enough. |
| His editorial followed remarks slamming Mr Romney at the weekend, who Mr Santorum described as "uniquely unqualified" to take on the key issues facing America. | His editorial followed remarks slamming Mr Romney at the weekend, who Mr Santorum described as "uniquely unqualified" to take on the key issues facing America. |
| He argued passionately for a more prominent role for religion in public affairs, saying: "I don't believe in an America where the separation of church and state are absolute." | He argued passionately for a more prominent role for religion in public affairs, saying: "I don't believe in an America where the separation of church and state are absolute." |
| US politics glossary Use the dropdown for easy-to-understand explanations of political terms: Air war The battle between candidates to get as much advertising on television and radio as possible. In recent years, online adverts, which are cheaper and can be more carefully targeted, have grown increasingly important. Glossary in full | US politics glossary Use the dropdown for easy-to-understand explanations of political terms: Air war The battle between candidates to get as much advertising on television and radio as possible. In recent years, online adverts, which are cheaper and can be more carefully targeted, have grown increasingly important. Glossary in full |
| "The idea that the church can have no influence or no involvement in the operation of the state is absolutely antithetical to the objectives and vision of our country... | "The idea that the church can have no influence or no involvement in the operation of the state is absolutely antithetical to the objectives and vision of our country... |
| "You bet that makes me want to throw up." | "You bet that makes me want to throw up." |
| Precarious lead | Precarious lead |
| In recent weeks, Mr Santorum has mounted a strong challenge to Mr Romney in Michigan. | In recent weeks, Mr Santorum has mounted a strong challenge to Mr Romney in Michigan. |
| An average of polls in the state compiled by Real Clear Politics shows the former governor clinging to a narrow lead of 1.5%, although he maintains a more comfortable lead in Arizona. | An average of polls in the state compiled by Real Clear Politics shows the former governor clinging to a narrow lead of 1.5%, although he maintains a more comfortable lead in Arizona. |
| A loss for Mr Romney in either state could establish Mr Santorum as a new frontrunner in the presidential race, correspondents say, and raise questions about Mr Romney's ability to appeal to his party's base. | A loss for Mr Romney in either state could establish Mr Santorum as a new frontrunner in the presidential race, correspondents say, and raise questions about Mr Romney's ability to appeal to his party's base. |
| Mr Santorum sprang an upset in the last round of voting, when he picked up three victories - in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado - in a single night. | Mr Santorum sprang an upset in the last round of voting, when he picked up three victories - in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado - in a single night. |
| Mr Romney currently has 123 delegates, compared to Mr Santorum's 72, with 1,144 needed to secure the nomination. | Mr Romney currently has 123 delegates, compared to Mr Santorum's 72, with 1,144 needed to secure the nomination. |
| Fifty-nine delegates are at stake in Tuesday's primary elections: 29 from Arizona and 30 from Michigan. | Fifty-nine delegates are at stake in Tuesday's primary elections: 29 from Arizona and 30 from Michigan. |
| Are you in Arizona or Michigan? What are your thoughts on the recent campaigning? You can get in touch with the BBC using the form below: |