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Riding a wave of momentum from Tuesday's sweep of victories in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri, GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) has his sights set on a bigger prize.
The former senator appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Wednesday, targeting the Great Lakes region for another win.
"We think Michigan's a great place for us to plant our flag and talk about jobs and manufacturing -- giving opportunities for everybody in America to rise," Santorum said.
MSNBC's First Read dove into the logic behind Santorum's plan. Rival Mitt Romney's father, George, served as governor from 1963-1969 in the Wolverine State. That historical bend stands to help Mitt.
But when comparing February 28's Michigan and Arizona primaries, Arizona stands as a tough grab. With a winner-take-all vote and religious presence that favors Romney, First Read highlights what Michigan offers for Santorum:
Santorum is banking on: 1) that his blue collar conservative message has a better chance of resonating in Michigan than Arizona; and 2) that he can actually win some delegates in Michigan ... Santorum's gambling that it's easier to potentially shock Romney in a virtual home state than contend with Romney's strength in the Mormon community.
Strategies aside, the Detroit Free Press notes that Santorum and Romney have already scheduled events. Santorum is slated to be the keynote speaker for Feb. 16's Oakland County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner. Romney is speaking to the Detroit Economic Club on Feb. 24, with Ford Field serving as a large-scale venue.