The Michigan Republican primary is almost a birthright for putative (?) GOP front runner Mitt Romney. His father was a former automaker executive and well-known governor (and failed presidential candidate) in the state, so the Romney name is widely known. Name recognition may be half of politics. And in 2008 Michigan was Romney's first major victory after failing in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Although he has been consistently portrayed as the leading contender for the nomination, Romney still needs to prove himself after a defeat in Iowa and South Carolina and a recent symbolic three-party state loss only partially ameliorated by a narrow win in Maine, which is Romney's backyard anyhow. A win in Michigan in two week (February 28) is thus crucial. Romney faced an insurgent threat from Newt Gingrich, since marginalized, but now may be facing an even stronger candidate in the form of Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum - the Iowa winner and favorite of the party's social conservative base.
http://www.examiner.com/rnc-in-washington-dc/santorum-leads-romney-michigan-two-new-pollsDammit, why couldn't it be Bachmann. Oh well, Rick is gonna have to do. Go Rick