MRG: Santorum 43%, Romney 33% en Michigan

Marketing Resource Group:

If the Michigan GOP primary election for U.S. President were held today Rick Santorum would defeat Mitt Romney in the state where he was born and raised.

“It is a two person race in Michigan and right now that could spell trouble for Romney,” said Tom Shields, President of Marketing Resource Group. “The conservative wing of the party has coalesced behind Santorum,” said Shields.

In the presidential primary ballot test, Santorum received 43 percent to Romney’s 33 percent, followed by Newt Gingrich at 11 percent, and Ron Paul at 8 percent.

“There is very little good news in this survey for Mitt Romney. Like George W. Bush
who hoped the Michigan primary would be his firewall, Michigan could be a fireball for Romney. The problem for Romney is not Democrats crossing over to vote, but Tea Party supporters who back Santorum 51 percent to Romney’s 22 percent, ”said Bill Ballenger, publisher of Inside Michigan Politics.

“Given these results it is really no surprise that the Romney Super Pac started an attack ad on Santorum this morning. The results in Michigan will come down to resources and message. Trailing by ten points – Mitt Romney has to win Michigan back,” said Shields. “Does Santorum have the resources to withstand the Romney assault, and will Romney have a message that finally resonates with Tea Party supporters? If you are a Michigan Republican you should be prepared to be bombarded on the air, on the phone, and in the mailbox for the next two weeks.”