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Romney Wins Arizona; Tight Race in Michigan — SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Mitt Romney won the Arizona primary on Tuesday, based on surveys of voters leaving polls, but was locked in a tight battle with Rick Santorum in Michigan, where Mr. Santorum hoped to use his strong showing in his rival's native state …
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Poll finds Santorum up by double-digits in Ohio — Fresh off his victories in Michigan and Arizona, Mitt Romney will need to pull another come-from-behind effort to take Ohio on Super Tuesday, a new poll shows. — Romney trails Rick Santorum by 11 points in the latest Ohio Poll from the University of Cincinnati.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice

After tough race, Romney beats Santorum in Michigan primary — Mitt Romney re-established himself as the Republican front-runner Tuesday night with his win in Michigan's pivotal primary, fending off what would have been a crushing defeat by rival Rick Santorum.
Discussion:
CNN, No More Mister Nice Blog, Politico and Ballot Box

First Thoughts: Winning ugly — Romney wins ugly in Michigan... But that win silences the talk about a white knight riding to the GOP's rescue... February took a toll on Romney... Did Santorum lose Michigan more than Romney winning it?... On to Super Tuesday... And Snowe's retirement gives Democrats …
Discussion:
GOP 12


5 takeaways from Arizona and Michigan — Mitt did it. — After a brutal and nail-biting build-up, Mitt Romney emerged from two primary contests Tuesday night with important victories under his belt, and Rick Santorum's momentum was stalled. — Below are POLITICO's five takeaways from Arizona and Michigan:
Discussion:
Pirate's Cove


Michigan and Arizona primaries 2012: Mitt Romney wins ugly — NOVI, Mich. - Mitt Romney may have won ugly in Michigan, but his narrow victory will temper the mounting criticism of his candidacy, even though his resilience is about to be tested again in some of the biggest prizes of Super Tuesday.
Discussion:
Politico, Bloomberg, Washington Post, NationalJournal.com, FiveThirtyEight, Marbury, The Moderate Voice and CNN

Huckabee Will Host a Presidential Forum on Fox News
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Washington Post, The New Republic, The Lonely Conservative, Politico, ABCNEWS and GOP 12

RNC chairman: Not a ‘fan’ of Santorum robocall tactic
Discussion:
CNN

John McCain: Close curtain on GOP ‘Greek tragedy’
Discussion:
National Review, Connecting.the.Dots, Weasel Zippers, Mediaite and The Hill


Odds of a Brokered Convention Are Increasing
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Outside the Beltway, Hot Air, blogs.telegraph.co.uk and Dean's World

In Ohio, fierce primary fight may hurt GOP's chances for the fall
Discussion:
New York Times, Reuters, Riehl World View and The Page

Exit polls: 1 in 10 voters was a Democrat in Michigan primary
Discussion:
The Hill, rebelpundit, Big Government, Daily Kos, FiveThirtyEight and Associated Press

Romney Camp Will Haunt Santorum With Robocall Story
Discussion:
GOP 12, 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com and BuzzFeed

Open thread: Michigeddon; Update: Romney wins Arizona; Update: Michigan exit poll added; Update …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, GOP 12, The New Republic, The Caucus, ABCNEWS, BuzzFeed, The Daily Dish, Politico, The Other McCain and RedState

A Big Night For Mitt Romney
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, CNN and The PJ Tatler

Mitt Romney Wins Primaries in Michigan and Arizona
Discussion:
CNN, Politico and CANNONFIRE

Romney fights to hold lead in Michigan primary after projected Arizona win
Discussion:
Verum Serum and New York Times

TRENDING: Santorum flips on Dems voting in GOP primaries
Discussion:
Politico, Campaign 2012, The Moderate Voice, ABCNEWS, DISSENTING JUSTICE, National Review, The Hill, The Reaction and Ballot Box

Romney wins pivotal Michigan primary as well as Arizona
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit

Michigan and Arizona primary results 2012: Mitt Romney staves off Rick Santorum
Discussion:
Algemeiner.com


Will Olympia Snowe Join Americans Elect? — Olympia Snowe's retirement statement seemed like it dropped a huge hint, and I'm surprised it hasn't received any attention: … This sounds exactly like the kind of rhetoric emanating from Americans Elect, the third-party group that believes …
Discussion:
The Maddow Blog, Salon, The Caucus, Guardian, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Hill and Mother Jones
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Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe to retire in blow to GOP — Maine Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe will not seek reelection in 2012, she announced Tuesday. — Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) on Dec. 17, 2011, after leaving the floor of the Senate. (J. Scott Applewhite - AP)


Playbook: Leap Day edition — TO TELL THE KIDS -USA Today 1A, “What if there were no leap years? ... [T]he calendar would be ‘scrambled,’” by Dan Vergano: “[T]he Earth doesn't circle the sun in exactly 365 days [but] 365.2425 days ... Those extra digits add up to almost a full day, but not quite, every four years. ...
Discussion:
Portland Press-Herald and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog

Snowe Fall(out) — Speculation has already begun in the frenzy …
Discussion:
The Lonely Conservative, Outside the Beltway, Ballot Box, Hot Air and Guardian


Support for gay marriage takes dramatic leap in California, new poll shows — A new poll shows gay marriage has arrived in California - in public opinion if not in state lawbooks. — Golden State registered voters now favor same-sex unions by 59 percent to 34 percent …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Steve Rothaus' Gay …, Towleroad News #gay and Joe. My. God.


Despite Detroit Comeback, Public Opposes Bailout — A majority of Americans think the federal government should not have helped out U.S. automakers that were in financial trouble, but rather should have allowed them to go it alone, according to a new United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll.
Discussion:
Campaign 2012, Wall Street Journal, Michelle Malkin and Weasel Zippers


Barone: Puzzling cheers for higher taxes — Copies of the president's FY2013 budget request are seen after they were delivered to the Senate Budget Committee on Feb. 13, 2012. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) — I have long been puzzled by the enthusiasm with which many young liberal bloggers cheer …

US: NK agrees to suspend nuclear activities — WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States says North Korea has agreed to suspend uranium enrichment and agree to a moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests. — State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland also said Wednesday the North …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Reuters


Geithner and the ‘Privilege’ of Being American — The Founders argued that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were rights that preceded government—not things to be granted by it. — Last week Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said that the “most fortunate Americans” …
Discussion:
Betsy's Page

Rules Chairman Dreier announces retirement after 16 House terms — House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-Calif.) on Wednesday morning announced from the House floor that he would not seek reelection this year. — “We all know that this institution has an abysmally low approval rating …
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's …