Romney gets Michigan's at-large delegates

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DETROIT, March 1 (UPI) -- Michigan's Republican credentialing committee awarded primary winner Mitt Romney the state's two at-large delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, edged out former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania in Michigan's primary Tuesday, 41 percent to 38 percent, and the committee's decision Wednesday appears to be at odds with the candidates' understanding of how at-large delegates should be awarded, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Each candidate received 14 delegates because each won seven congressional districts, but the party vote brings Romney's delegate total from Michigan to 16.

Credentials committee member Saul Anuzis said the party decided in February to award the at-large delegates to the primary winner, but the party accidentally sent a memo to the campaigns saying they would be awarded proportionately.

"While we regret the error in the memo, it does not change what was voted on by the committee," Anuzis said. "This is much to do about nothing."

A Santorum spokesman said the decision represents "the kind of backroom dealing, political thuggery that just cannot happen in America."