Romney's Michigan appeal has self-interest: His own, and the state's

Republican Mitt Romney on Sunday asked Michigan's electorate to vote its self-interest _ and his.

Struggling to keep his presidential bid going after two second-place finishes, the ex-Massachusetts governor focused on his roots in Michigan and promised to do more to lift up the economically hard-hit state than rival John McCain. He also suggested another rival, Mike Huckabee, the preacher-turn-politician who came out of nowhere to win the Iowa caucuses on the strength of the conservative Christian vote, was the wrong type of Republican for the nomination.

"I will commit this to you," Romney said Sunday, nearly yelling himself hoarse during a …