Michigan Mormons like Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, too

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BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — Nancy McIntyre enthusiastically declared her support in Michigan's GOP presidential primary Tuesday for Mitt Romney, who grew up in this affluent community.

"You bet. Yay, Mitt!" McIntyre said, pulling her plush coat tighter against the chill in the tree-shrouded parking lot of the LDS Church stake center where Romney's former ward meets, next door to Michigan's only Mormon temple.

McIntyre said after she and her husband, a retired stockbroker, converted to Mormonism years ago, they socialized with Romney's family, including his father, the late former Michigan Gov. George Romney.

"We know the basic beliefs of their family, and the background from which Mitt came," McIntyre, a native of nearby Royal Oak, said. "We have 100 percent belief in Mitt."

Still, McIntyre said she could support Romney's current chief rival for the Republican nomination, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, should he emerge as the party's choice to face President Barack Obama in November.

"They're so close in principles of belief," McIntyre said of Santorum and Romney. "If Santorum wins, we're behind him 100 percent. I hope people who are behind Santorum feel the same way about Mitt."

Romney and Santorum are waging a bitter battle for Michigan voters in a race seen as too close to call. After trailing behind Santorum for much of the month, Romney now has a slight edge in most polls.

Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, who will appear with Romney at rallies in two Michigan cities Monday, said voters have to decide whether fixing the economy is the most pressing issue this election year.

If it is, Leavitt said, then Romney clearly has to be their choice. Santorum has campaigned mainly on his conservative stands on social issues, especially his opposition to abortion.

"Mitt Romney got into the race because he believes the government is too large, spending is too much and it needs to be turned around," Leavitt said. "When he talks about those things, he does well."

Romney has run into trouble, however, with comments that are being portrayed as demonstrating he is out of touch with those who don't share his privileged background and professional successes.