Republicans in Michigan voted in the US presidential race today, with native son Mitt Romney battling for political survival in a primary that could either revive or sink his campaign.
As the results roll in from Michigan soon after the last polls close at 8 pm EST (1pm tomorrow), Democratic White House contenders Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards are scheduled to meet in an evening debate in Nevada, site of the party's next contest on Saturday.
The hectic schedule reflects the heightened intensity of the wide-open US presidential race, as both parties choose candidates for the November election to succeed President George W Bush.
Polls show Mr Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who was raised in Michigan as part of a famous political family, running neck-and-neck with Arizona Sen. John McCain in a state where the ailing economy has moved to the top of the agenda.
A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released early today gave Mr McCain a statistically insignificant 1-point edge, 27 per cent to 26 per cent, over Mr Romney. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was third with 15 per cent.
Mr Romney needs a breakthrough win in Michigan where his father was a top auto executive and popular governor in the 1960s to keep his White House hopes alive after second-place finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire.
A Mr McCain win after last week's New Hampshire victory would thrust him into the front-runner's role heading into Southern contests in South Carolina and Florida.
"This is a big day. This is a day that I believe will change our nation," Mr Romney said at a rally in an office furniture warehouse.
"I think Michigan is going to vote for a Romney again, I'm counting on it," added Mr Romney, who stresses his venture capitalist past as a plus to the economically troubled state.
Wearing his lucky green sweater and clutching his lucky penny, Mr McCain visited a polling place early in Traverse City.
"It's going to be a very close race," he told reporters who outnumbered voters at the polling site shortly after voting began. "We're confident because of the enthusiasm at the town hall meetings and the rallies but we've got a long way to go."
Democrats also will hold a primary in Michigan but a dispute over the date of the vote led the national party to strip the state of its delegates to this summer's presidential nominating convention.
As a result, Mr Obama and Mr Edwards kept their names off the ballot and Ms Clinton is the only top contender listed. None of the top Democrats have campaigned in the state since the dispute arose.