It’s hard to believe that Romney wouldn’t sweep MI, but I guess the electorate is too young to recognize George W. Romney.
You may not have agreed with it at the time, but I think Gingrich’s bain capital attacks from South Carolina are still reaping results.
I'm a Michigan native. George Romney was last elected in 1966 and left in 1969 to join Nixon's cabinet. Anyone under 43 (including me) was not even alive for his tenure. Anyone under 55 probably has only a fading memory of him or what his parents said about him. Anyone under 67 was unable to vote for George Romney.
In addition, the more people see Mitt, the less they like him. My parents in their 60's don't like him and think he's a panderer. They don't like Newt either. They'll vote for anyone over Obama, however. I'm in my 30's, so all I know about George Romney was the stories. Mitt reminds me of another car guy. Joe Isuzu.