Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney cruised to an easy victory in the Arizona primary Tuesday and eked out a narrow one in Michigan, a double win that steadied a campaign shaken in recent weeks by surging support for rival Rick Santorum.  Mitt Romney talks to supporters at his election watch party Tuesday night in Novi, Mich.  Mitt Romney talks to supporters at his election watch party Tuesday night in Novi, Mich.  The returns fortified Romney's lead in convention delegates, although he remains far short of the 1,144 needed to clinch the nomination, and averted the potential catastrophe of losing the state where he was born and where his father served as governor.  "We didn't win by a lot but we won by enough and that's all that counts," Romney told supporters gathered in the Detroit suburb of Novi. He took credit for a comeback after a week in which "the pundits and the pollsters were ready to count us out."  It's hardly over: Santorum, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul vowed to continue their campaigns into next week's Super Tuesday contests in 10 states.  Romney won a double-digit victory in Arizona, which gave all of its delegates to the winner and where his opponents didn't seriously campaign.  In Michigan, he prevailed by winning the lion's share of support from those voters — nearly eight in 10 — who cited the economy or the federal budget deficit as the most important issue. A majority said he was the GOP candidate most likely to defeat Obama in November, and he won an overwhelming majority of those.  Still, Santorum demonstrated his draw among the sort of voters who fueled sweeping Republican gains in the 2010 elections, among them strong supporters of the Tea Party movement, born-again Christians, and those who called themselves very conservative.  Surveys of voters as they left polling places showed camps with sharply different priorities: Romney led by about 4-to-1 among those who said they wanted a candidate with the "right experience" and the ability to defeat President Obama. Santorum won by about the same ratio among those who wanted a "true conservative" and someone with strong moral character.  "A month ago, they didn't know who we are, but they do now," Santorum told a crowd of enthusiastic supporters in Grand Rapids after most of the votes had been counted. He said he "came into the backyard of one of my opponents," given little chance to win, "and all I have to say is, I love you back."  In fact, the field didn't command enormous enthusiasm among Michiganders. Fewer than half said they strongly favored their candidate while more than a third said they liked him with reservations. One in seven said they voted for someone because they disliked the alternatives.  Automated phone calls by the Santorum campaign had encouraged Democrats to go to the polls to vote for the former Pennsylvania senator. Some mischievous Democrats had urged the same. Romney carried Republicans but Santorum beat him 53%-17% among Democrats.  , visit our FAQ's. To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor  . For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to  . Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to  USA TODAY is now using Facebook Comments on our stories and blog posts to provide an enhanced user experience. To post a comment, log into Facebook and then "Add" your comment. To report spam or abuse, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box. To find out more, read the  To work in spin for the GOP is to have a bag of maggots for sale as cupcakes. A tough sale. Did you hear the one about a party against condoms that prevent aids for adults? What about the party that is against fair working wages and benefits for police, firemen and teachers? lol. The GOP is pro more aids and abortions. (Condoms and birth control prevent each.) The heathen GOP is even against the police that keep you safe, the firemen who put out your house fires and the teachers who teach the kids. Vote for police, firemen and teachers. Vote for fewer abortions and less aids patients tax $ paid health costs. Gm is alive and Bin laden is dead. Send a clear message to the out of touch GOP in 2012. Vote for Sound Christian Democratic leadership on a local, state and federal level in 2012. Vote (d)
Mitt Romney wins the Arizona and Michigan primaries, defeating Rick Santorum and regaining his footing in the Republican presidential race.