Mich. voters: Santorum connects better than Romney

Now Romney seems to be on the opposite side, opposing the federal bailout of General Motors and Chrysler. Fewer voters remember his father, George, who ran American Motors Co. before serving three terms as Michigan governor in the 1960s. And while Romney was seen four years ago as the conservative alternative to McCain, Santorum is the one many Michigan Republicans say they'll back in the state's presidential primary a week from Tuesday.

"I was a non-supporter of anybody until he came on the scene," Jody Kuhn, a 74-year-old retired community college staffer from Muskegon, said of Santorum. Kuhn said she likes his conservative views.

Not everyone thinks Santorum can go the distance, however.

Clarkston resident Rick Sutkiewicz said recently that he's backing Romney because he stands a better chance of beating President Barack Obama.

"Not that I like Romney best as a candidate," the 45-year-old said while eating dinner in Auburn Hills, home to Chrysler's headquarters and Sutkiewicz's heating and air conditioning business. Sutkiewicz said he prefers Santorum but worries he has too many issues that can be exploited by opponents.

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