Romney wins Michigan and Arizona Mitt Romney's tentative hold on the status of GOP front-runner received a significant boost with victory in Michigan, where he won his native state and fought off a spirited challenge from Rick Santorum. Combined with a resounding triumph in the winner-take-all state of Arizona, Romney extended his lead in the delegate race and assuaged concerns of party leaders that the GOP race was on track for a prolonged and bitter battle. Romney, the early favorite, had seen his lead evaporate as Santorum rode the momentum of a trio of wins earlier this month in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri that exposed the degree to which conservatives remained suspicious of the former Massachusetts governor. But the Santorum campaign's efforts to push a message tailored toward working-class voters was sidetracked by the candidate's repeated comments on social issues. Santorum addressed supporters at his headquarters in Grand Rapids, Mich., shortly after he called Romney to congratulate him on his victory. "We came to the backyard of one of my opponents," Santorum said. And the people of Michigan looked into the hearts of the candidates. And all I have to say is, 'I love you back.' While projections showed Romney would win the popular vote in Michigan, which would garner him at least two of the state's 30 delegates, it was not yet known how many more delegates he would collect because the state awards the other 28 proportionally, two to the winner of each of the state's 14 congressional districts. The dual wins provide Romney needed momentum as the playing field expands dramatically in the coming weeks, with 11 contests on "Super Tuesday" March 6.