Romney backers warned of long fight

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LANSING, Mich., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Mitt Romney campaigned hard Saturday in Michigan, focusing on both President Obama and his leading Republican challenger, Rick Santorum.

Tuesday's Michigan primary is an important one for Romney, who was born in the state. But his staff warned financial contributors that even if Romney wins Michigan on Tuesday, the fight for the nomination may continue for weeks, The New York Times reported.

Speaking to Ingham County Republicans at a Lincoln Day breakfast in Lansing, Romney barely mentioned Santorum, The Detroit News reported. Instead, the former Massachusetts governor promised to be a tax-cutter.

"I'm going to do it by getting us more good jobs, by getting us less debt and by getting government a heck of a lot smaller and freeing the American people to pursue their dreams," Romney said.

It was a different story in Troy, where both Santorum and Romney addressed Americans for Prosperity. Santorum attacked Romney, and Romney returned the favor a couple of hours later, calling the former Pennsylvania senator a Washington insider, the Times said.

Romney went after Santorum's support of former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, a moderate Republican who later switched to the Democratic Party.

"This taking one for the team, that's business as usual in Washington," Romney said. "We have to have principled, conservative leadership, and I have demonstrated that through my life."