Arizona a Winner in Presidential Primary, Too

Arizona Sen. John McCain endorsed Mitt Romney early and has campaigned for him nationally.

Mitt Romney wasn't the only winner in the Arizona presidential primary election on Tuesday, with his double-digit victory over Rick Santorum.

Arizona also was a winner, gaining the national spotlight in what many came to recognize as a key early contest in the Republican nominating process. That was Gov. Jan Brewer's intention last year when she defied the national party by scheduling the election early and making it winner take all.

The state drew a debate among the four still-standing GOP candidates and several campaign appearances by Romney and Santorum.

Romney, who gave his victory speech from Michigan, where he won a much narrower victory, claimed the momentum in the race. He thanked Arizona's Republicans and singled out Brewer, who endorsed him on Sunday. Many other Republican politicians in Arizona had endorsed Romney earlier.

Romney had led by wide margins in Arizona polling until mid February, when Santorum's national surge washed into the state and he narrowed the gap in three polls to single digits. But he couldn't hold there as Romney's superior organization and deeper pockets kicked in.

Additionally, many pundits said Romney handled himself well in the Feb. 22 debate in Mesa, especially in staking out a strong conservative stand on immigration in the state that has been in the national spotlight on that issue, too.