Primary Results For Michigan, Arizona: Winners & Losers (PHOTOS)

Republican presidential hopefuls competed in two primaries in Arizona and Michigan Tuesday, just a week ahead of what could be a decisive Super Tuesday.

With former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney holding a commanding lead in the Arizona polls going into Tuesday, all eyes were on the hotly contested race in Michigan, where Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum entered primary day in a dead heat.

With former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul relegated to the background, Santorum and Romney mostly attacked one another, culminating in Romney accusing the former Pennsylvania senator of playing a "dirty trick" by telling Democrats to vote for him.

Romney eventually proved victorious in the Wolverine State, as well as in Arizona.

However, the actual importance of the Michigan primary is debatable. When state officials made the decision to move up the primary to February, against party rules, the state was penalized and left with just 30 delegates to award, as opposed to its usual 59, leading some to bemoan the media's hype of the contest.

Others argue, however, that Tuesday's real prize is not Michigan or Arizona's delegates, but momentum. With 10 states up for grabs on Super Tuesday, the next week of campaigning could be crucial for the candidates.

Below is a look at the biggest winners and losers from the Michigan and Arizona primaries.

WINNER: Mitt Romney

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Despite fears that Mitt Romney would lose in his home state, the former governor proved victorious in the very close Michigan primary, as well as the less competitive Arizona contest. With these two contests in his pocket, Romney can now focus his attention on Super Tuesday, when a total of 419 delegates will be awarded. Those 10 contests could prove to be decisive for Romney -- if he does well, he could avoid rumblings of a brokered convention from GOP operatives who have doubted his ability to perform in the general election.

Despite fears that Mitt Romney would lose in his home state, the former governor proved victorious in the very close Michigan primary, as well as the less competitive Arizona contest.

With these two contests in his pocket, Romney can now focus his attention on Super Tuesday, when a total of 419 delegates will be awarded. Those 10 contests could prove to be decisive for Romney -- if he does well, he could avoid rumblings of a brokered convention from GOP operatives who have doubted his ability to perform in the general election.

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WINNER: Mitt Romney

Despite fears that Mitt Romney would lose in his home state, the former governor proved victorious in the very close Michigan primary, as well as the less competitive Arizona contest. With these two contests in his pocket, Romney can now focus his attention on Super Tuesday, when a total of 419 delegates will be awarded. Those 10 contests could prove to be decisive for Romney -- if he does well, he could avoid rumblings of a brokered convention from GOP operatives who have doubted his ability to perform in the general election.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/28/primary-results-michigan-arizona_n_1307501.html

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