PHOENIX — Much of the 2012 race for the Republican presidential nomination has been defined by Mitt Romney’s failure to win over conservative voters despite several marquee victories in the party’s nominating contests.
Yet, exit polling in both Michigan and Arizona — states in which Romney avoided what would have been crippling defeats on Tuesday — show that the former Massachusetts governor is finally growing his support among a broader cross-section of Republican voters as he heads into the 10-state Super Tuesday contests that could finally cement his claim to his party’s nomination.
By far, voters this election cycle said they want a nominee they believe has the experience needed to corral stubbornly high unemployment and defeat President Obama in a general election expected to be closely contested regardless of which Republican emerges with the nomination from this feisty fight.
