Tonight marks the beginning of a comeback, a comeback for America. You know only a week ago a win looked like it was impossible but then you got out and told America what they needed to hear. And tonight is a victory of optimism over Washington-style pessimism.

For a minute there in New Hampshire I thought this campaign might be getting easier. But you know what? We've gotten pretty good at doing things the hard way too.

Just remember, you know, as my pastor used to tell me as a little kid, when you're getting kicked in the behind, it proves you're still out front.

The bottom line is he (Romney) appealed to Michigan on the issues that matter here, and that's the economy and jobs. The national recession is catching up to the Michigan recession, so I think the message will travel to other states. Michigan is a good bellwether.

We're going to win in South Carolina. John McCain fits the state and the times very well, so I'm excited about the next four days and we're going to be electing the total package, social and economic conservatism that doesn't change based on the audience.

McCain will survive this loss, and it clearly indicates there is no consensus among Republicans about their nominee.

As the contest moves to South Carolina, look for Romney McCain and Huckabee to face serious questions about their commitment to consistent conservative principles. Their records are in stark contrast to Fred Thompson, who remains the one true steadfast conservative in this race.

The vote on Tuesday was proof from the ballot box of what polls have shown: this is a party that is adrift, deeply divided and uninspired when it comes to its presidential candidates and unsure of how to counter an energized Democratic Party.

Forget that Romney, like so many people, is an ex-Michigander, who went off to college and never came back. For the closing days of the campaign, it was like he'd never left.

Mitt Romney's decisive victory in Michigan Tuesday throws an already confused GOP race onto the verge of chaos. With an unprecedented three different winners in the first three major contests, the picture now is even more unclear than when Iowans cast the first ballots less than two weeks ago.