WASHINGTON, January 16 (RIA Novosti) - Mitt Romney has won the Michigan state primary, breathing life into his flagging candidacy and further complicating the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. president.
Romney took some 39% of the vote, leaving Senator John McCain in second place with 30% and Mike Huckabee in third with 16%. The mayor of New York, Rudi Giuliani, took 3% and finished fourth.
Romney, who was beaten on January 3 in Iowa and in New Hampshire five days later, desperately needed a victory in his native Michigan to keep his campaign on track.
"Only a week ago a win looked like it was impossible, but then you got out and told America what they needed to hear. Tonight marks the beginning of a comeback, a comeback for America," Romney told supporters, following the announcement of the primary results.
The Democrat primary in Michigan held no meaning as the party refused to recognize the results due to a disagreement with the state over its timing. It was won by Hilary Clinton, the only candidate to stand.
With the first three primaries going to three different candidates, the race for the Republican nomination for the November presidential election would now seem to be wide open.
John McCain continues to lead in national polls, with a national USA Today-Gallup Poll on Tuesday showing the Arizona Senator on 33 %, followed by Huckabee on 19% and Giuliani on 13%. Romney is in fourth place nationwide with 11 %.
Although Romney's victory may have done much to boost his campaign, it remains unlikely that the Mormon businessman and former governor of Massachusetts, who has sunk some $20 million of his own money into his bid, will receive his party's nomination.
Some 29% of U.S. citizens have stated in national opinion polls that they would under no circumstances vote for a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons).
Mormons believe that the 'angel Moroni' gave golden tablets to the church's founder Joseph Smith, describing an ancient civilization of Israelites that God had sent to the Americas. The tablets, which Smith was able to read and translate with special transparent stones, also contained information on a visit by Jesus to the continent after his resurrection. Smith's translations were published as the Book of Mormon in 1830.
The Mormons are also well-known for the practice of polygamy, although the modern day church no longer practices this. Mormons also believe, although there is some debate within the church itself as to the meaning of the teaching, that God resides near a planet called Kolob. One of the church's hymns is called "If you could hie to Kolob."
Joseph Smith was killed by a mob whilst campaigning for president in 1844.
