Politics | Mitt Romney Romney Leads McCain in Michigan: Poll Favored by voters who cite economy & jobs as top concerns By Jane Yager Posted Jan 13, 2008 6:30 AM CST Copied Republican presidential hopefuls, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney participate in the Fox News Republican Candidate Forum in Manchester, N.H., Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Associated Press) Mitt Romney has grabbed an 8-point lead over closest rival John McCain heading into the Michigan primary, according to the latest MSNBC/McClatchy poll of the state's voters. Romney needs the good news: he has reduced advertising in South Carolina and staked his continuing candidacy on Michigan. The poll puts Romney at 30%, McCain at 22%, and Mike Huckabee at 17%. The field winds up with Fred Thompson at 7%, Rudy Giuliani at 6% and Ron Paul at 5%. Romney holds a strong lead among voters who cite the economy and jobs as their top concern, and among Republican voters; McCain is strongest among independents, and Huckabee among evangelicals, according to the poll. The reliability of polls has taken a hit, however, after pollsters failed to predict Hilary Clinton's New Hampshire win. Other polls see McCain and Romney tied—and one released yesterday said McCain was beating Mitt. Read These Next 'Butt-breathing' could be the future for struggling patients. Arrests in federal gambling probe rock the NBA. Online boo-bears go after the demo firm tearing White House apart. Girl's suspected killer can't be named. But he was anyway. Report an error