Mainly addressing issues he felt relevant in his speech, including energy, job creation and healthcare, Santorum’s closest reference to tonight’s race was one of triumph.

“A month ago they didn’t know who we are,” Santorum said. “They do now.”

Santorum was critical of President Barack Obama in his speech, declaring the president’s healthcare programs unreasonable and accusing him of preventing job creation, particularly in rural towns.

Santorum did not make any direct references to Romney during the speech.

Santorum said after the speech he was pleased with the result and considered it a partial victory, considering the Michigan race initially was thought to be an easy win for Romney.

Lauren Gibbons
Follow her: @LaurenMGibbons

10:20 p.m.

Novi, Mich — The Associated Press has called the Michigan primary race for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

With 71 percent of the precincts in, Romney leads Santorum by about 30,000 votes.

Per CNN reporting, Santorum had called Romney before his speech in Grand Rapids to concede the race.

Crowds at Romney headquarters erupted in cheers upon hearing the announcement, and Romney is expected to speak soon.

Andrew Krietz
Follow him: @akrietz

9:14 p.m.

Novi, Mich. — Romney was projected to win the Arizona primary, an announcement which was met by wild applause and chants for Romney from the crowd here.

So far, the entire night has been a dead heat in Michigan, the candidates switching leads several times by just two or three percentage points.

Santorum so far is winning several key counties in Michigan, including Kalamazoo and Kent counties, where Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids are located. He also has secured every county in the upper peninsula so far.

Romney was winning counties in the Detroit area and others in Southeast Michigan, as well as counties in the northern part of the state near Traverse City and Gaylord.

More than 70 percent of the results have yet to be reported.

Ian Kullgren
Follow him: @IanKullgren

8:55 p.m.

Grand Rapids — With preliminary results coming in from around the state, Rick Santorum has a slight 1 percent lead over Mitt Romney with 9 percent or precincts reporting.

In early reports, Upper Peninsula voters have supported Santorum as well as pockets of southwestern Michigan. Romney currently holds the lead in the eastern side of the state. Results from Ingham County were not yet available.

Rachel Jackson
Follow her: @_racheljackson

8:30 p.m.

East Lansing — As voting draws to a close for the Michigan primary, exit polls have displayed signs of a crossover voting tactic, as Michigan Democrats are voting for Rick Santorum to sway poll results away from Mitt Romney’s favor.

According to CNN.com, exit poll data showed less than half of voters said they strongly supported the candidate they voted for, while 52 percent either held reservations or opposed the other candidate more.

It was also reported that Santorum asked Michigan Democrats to vote for him to “send a loud message to Massachusetts’ Mitt Romney” through automated phone calls on Monday, according to CNN.com.

Some voters, such as international relations junior Chris Burnett, did just that.

Burnett, a self affiliated Democrat, said at about 3 p.m. today, he visited a local poll at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 3383 E. Lake Lansing Road, and voted for Santorum to win the Michigan primary.

“Mitt Romney cannot win Michigan,” Burnett said. “He cannot become president.”

Kellie Rowe

8:15 p.m.

Novi, Mich. — Western Michigan University student Taylor Hamilton drove from Kalamazoo, Mich., to hear Mitt Romney speak to his supporters.

She said he is the best candidate within the Republican field not only with the best stance on the economy, but also the best to beat President Barack Obama in November.

Andrew Krietz
Follow him: @akrietz

8:10 p.m.

Grand Rapids — Michigan’s polls have now closed, and Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s supporters have been allowed into the Grand Amway Plaza ballroom where he is scheduled to make an appearance later this evening.

The room is slowly filling up with supporters young and old, and excited chatter has permeated the the air. Many have their eyes glued to a large screen, where the national Fox News station stands ready to report the latest results.

No announcements have yet been made on when Santorum is slated to speak.

Lauren Gibbons
Follow her: @LaurenMGibbons

7:50 p.m.

Grand Rapids — Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum saw support from TV personalities Tuesday as the Duggar family, stars of TLC’s show “19 Kids and Counting,” made an appearance at his headquarters in Grand Rapids.

Jim Bob Duggar, father of the Duggar children, said the family has supported Santorum since the beginning of his campaign and has attended several of his post-primary rallies.

Duggar said Santorum supports the issues their family cares about and believes he will win this primary and hopefully the presidential election.

“(Santorum) is the family value candidate,” Duggar said. “He stood for what’s right, and we wanted to get behind him and support him.”

Lauren Gibbons
Follow her: @LaurenMGibbons

7:20 p.m.

Novi, Mich. — More reports are showing Democrats supporting Santorum in an attempt to derail the election. A new CNN polls claims half of all democrats who voted today so far voted for Santorum, while 15 percent voted for Romney. President Barack Obama also is on the ballot, running unopposed on the Democratic side.

Such numbers could be enough to push Santorum into the lead — a huge blow to Romney’s national image, as he was born and raised here.

Ian Kullgren
Follow him: @IanKullgren

5:45 p.m.

Novi, Mich. — As polls are set to close in less than three hours, how tonight’s election will end is not a forgone conclusion. As the Romney campaign sets up camp here for the long night ahead, stakes are running high.

Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum have been in a dead heat in the polls, fighting between just a handful of points

Some reports have indicated numbers of Democrats are turning out for Santorum in order to fracture the republican lineup, which could be enough to swing the election.

But early exit polls indicate 38 percent of voters today are looking for a candidate that can beat President Barack Obama, while only 16 percent said being a true conservative is the most important quality.

Ian Kullgren
Follow him: @IanKullgren

5:22 p.m.

Grand Rapids — All is abuzz at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids as media outlets and event organizers prepare for presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s arrival.

With about three hours left before Michigan’s polls close and a race described by some as too close to call, excitement for the Santorum side mounts in the wake of several polls showing Santorum neck-and-neck with rival Mitt Romney in Michigan.

A Feb. 27 poll from Public Policy Polling shows Santorum with a slight lead over Romney, 38 to 37 percent. Time will tell if the poll accurately reflects the Michigan voting population.

Lauren Gibbons
Follow her: @LaurenMGibbons