Democrats, Independents Might Decide Michigan

The polls begin closing in Michigan at 8pm Eastern time, but it could be hours after that before the race is called, says the Wall Street Journal. Things are so tight between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum that Democrats and independents might end up determining the winner in the open primary, notes Politico. (That would be much to Santorum's delight.)

Exit polls in Michigan suggest that Democrats will make up about 10% of voters, notes CNN. Republicans accounted for 60% and independents the rest. Overall, less than half of voters said they "strongly favored" their candidate, suggesting that the GOP enthusiasm gap endures. (AP has more exit poll details here.) As for Arizona, the other state voting today: Romney now seems poised for a comfortable win, writes Nate Silver in the New York Times. (More Mitt Romney 2012 stories.)