Romney, GOP face crucial primary week

WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney will face his three Republican rivals Wednesday in a debate that marks the start of a crucial week for his presidential bid.

The former Massachusetts governor badly needs to win the Feb. 28 primary in Michigan, the state where he grew up and his father once governed. A victory there, coupled with a win in the Arizona primary the same day, could give him a strong boost.

But a Michigan loss for the self-described "son of Detroit" could be devastating. Romney has trailed former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum in most recent statewide polls, though he appears to be closing the gap.

"Romney's loss will leave the party with no clear front-runner, or at least a possible emerging front-runner, Santorum," said Victoria Mantzopoulos, a professor of political science at the University of Detroit Mercy.

Romney's first test of the week comes Wednesday as Republicans debate for two hours in Mesa, Ariz., starting at 8 p.m. CNN will televise the debate, the 20th of the long primary season and the first since the candidates met, Jan. 23 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Also participating in the debate, the last before next week's primaries as well as before the 10-state "Super Tuesday" on March 6, are Texas Rep. Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives. Paul has been waging a spirited campaign, while Gingrich, whose campaign was built on debates, has all but disappeared in recent weeks.