CNN, NBC, Fox News, and the Associated Press all projected Mitt Romney of Massachusetts as the winner of the Republican primary in Michigan on Tuesday.

 

John McCain of Arizona was projected to finish second, and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas third.

 

With 31 percent of precincts reporting, Romney had 39 percent of the vote compared to arch-rival McCain's 30 percent.

 

Huckabee had 16 percent of the vote, followed by Texas Republican Ron Paul with 6 percent.

 

On the Democratic side, Senator Hillary Clinton of New York is the only front-runner on the ballot.

 

Party officials voted to strip Michigan of its Democratic delegates for its decision to schedule the primary so early.

 

Romney capitalized on his local roots and business experience, after struggling to connect with voters in Iowa, where he presented himself as a social conservative, and in New Hampshire, where he retooled his message as a fiscal conservative.

 

He found more comfortable footing in Michigan.

 

Romney, who is familiar with the local culture, focused on his resume, saying his business background would help him reinvigorate the Michigan economy, by far the most important issue for voters.

 

Romney, who placed second in both New Hampshire and Iowa despite pouring millions of U.S. dollars into advertising, was under special pressure to perform well in Michigan.

 

He traded on his native son status and a pitch to help Michigan recover from a "one-state recession" to close the deal.

 

The devastated auto sector and high unemployment rate are top priorities in Michigan, which has lost hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs in the last seven years.

 

Half of voters surveyed picked the economy as the top issue. Only one in five chose Iraq. Some mentioned illegal immigrants and terrorism.

 

Romney, 60, who was raised in a wealthy Detroit suburb and spent summer vacations in Canada, claims a special affinity with Michigan.

 

He went on to open an investment firm and became a multimillionaire before serving as Massachusetts governor.

 

Until now, his deep pockets has not helped him win any state except Wyoming where none of his rivals campaigned.

 

But Romney has always vowed to fight on through Feb. 5, when more than 20 states will vote.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2008)