"Let's take the first step to a better future on Tuesday" former Massachusetts Governor Romney said.

You're Mitt Romney and it's your future that's on the line tomorrow. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum said, "You can change this race right here in Michigan!"

Yes, they can! Republican voters who've sent Rick Santorum to the top of the national polls could send Romney to the bottom if Santorum beats Romney in Michigan.

Santorum said, "What we believe will come out of Tuesday is that this is a two person race right now."

The day before the most important primary yet, Romney is still out of sync. This weekend, at the Daytona 500, he once again missed a chance to connect with blue collar workers. When asked if he follows NASCAR, he replied: "Not as closely as some of the ardent fans, but I have some great friends who are NASCAR team owners."…which was almost as politically tone deaf as what he said Friday: "I drive a Mustang and a Chevy pickup truck. Ann drives a couple of Cadillacs, actually."

All of which makes Santorum sound like his long shot strategy could work: "Just hang back there for as long as you can. Let all the folks in front of you crash and burn and then move up at the end and try to win the race."

While Romney simply sounds worried: "I think I can show that I can fight real hard and come from behind," Romney said.

Santorum can "win" Michigan by coming in a close second. So what Romney really needs, to re-establish himself as the clear frontrunner in the Republican race, is a big win in Michigan tomorrow.

Unfortunately for him, and his supporters, there's no indication he'll get that.

(Copyright (c) 2012 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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