Split outcome in Presidential Primary much more likely
This year Michigan's 30 GOP delegates will be divided 2 a piece among the 15 congressional districts with the remaining 2 going to the popular vote winner.
/ US House of Representatives
There are some key changes to Michigan's Republican presidential primary this year. First, Michigan will have only half of the 59 delegates it is accustomed to having. All because the state would not comply with GOP demands and move the primary past March 1st. State officials chose the delegate penalty over the only other option state law would allow, a May primary in which odds are usually much higher that the nomination would be long wrapped up. Perhaps not this year.
The reason, Romney's current leading total of 106 delegates is a far cry from the 1144 needed to wrap up the nomination. You can see the current delegate count here. Michigan's primary, too close to call in polling, will hand out delegates by Congressional district. 2 delegates for each of the state's 14 US Congressional districts. Making for essentially a mini-primary in each one. The remaining two delegates will be handed out to the statewide popular vote winner. This makes a scenario where one candidate winds the popular vote but another wins a majority of delegates, much more likely. It also means a Romney loss in Michigan will probably be more devastating for the candidate's momentum, losing the state where he grew up heading into Super Tuesday, than it would be in the overall delegate count. But it would be an embarrasing loss of the state where he grew up.
New polls out from Rasmussen Reports show Romney tied and Santorum losing in a theoretical head to head match up with Barack Obama, while Ron Paul actually leads the President 43-41 percent. NBC25 will have election results tonight as they come in and you can also follow them through the night on our election page.
