Romney Introduced As "Comeback Kid" At Rally

With Mitt Romney lagging behind Rick Santorum in recent polls of Michigan voters, the state's attorney general introduced the long-time frontrunner at an event on Tuesday with a new nickname -- "the comeback kid."

Attorney General Bill Schuette said Romney, whose campaign has far outspent his rivals, shelling out $18.8 million in January alone, is "fighting like an underdog in this barnburner of a campaign."

"Michigan loves an underdog," Schuette said.

Voters go to the polls next Tuesday in Michigan, where Santorum is now leading, and Arizona, where Romney has an edge. Romney's results in those two states are perceived to be a key test of his ability to win the Republican nomination and run a competitive race against President Barack Obama in the general election.

During the event at Eagle Manufacturing in Shelby Township, Mich., on Tuesday, Romney aimed most of his attacks at the president -- criticizing his fiscal policies as well as his recent ruling that contraception must be provided to employees of religious-affiliated institutions.

"I can assure you, as someone who has understood very personally the significance of religious tolerance ... I will make sure we never attack religious liberty," Romney said, alluding to his own Mormon faith.

Romney, did, however, turn his focus to Santorum when prompted by a voter's question about differences between the candidates.

Romney argued that Santorum's record is still unfamiliar to many voters because he "hasn't been as carefully viewed as some of the others."

"Rick Santorum is now just being seen for the first time in many homes," Romney said, before reciting his oft-repeated criticism that the former Pennsylvania senator voted to raise the debt ceiling five times and has defended his use of earmarks while serving in Washington.

"I don't think that's consistent with the principles of conservatism," Romney said.

He also pointed to Santorum's long history in the nation's capital, noting that he worked as a Washington lobbyist in addition to his tenures in the US House and US Senate.

"I don't think you can change Washington if that's all you've ever known," Romney said.

Romney also teased an upcoming speech at Detroit's Ford Field on Friday, which he said will detail his plans for taxes, spending, Medicare and Social Security.

"What I'm going to be doing over the coming days, is I'm going to be talking about how to make all three of those things work together: Our taxes, to create more growth, our spending, to make sure we balance the budget and our long-term obligations, our entitlements," Romney said. "On tax policy, I said I want to see taxes flatter, and fairer and simpler, because I want our tax policies to encourage growth."