9:46PM - Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle released the following statement:

"Tonight Michigan Democrats spoke loudly for a new beginning. You spoke out for an economy that would honor the middle class, not punish it. You spoke out for a President who will fight to create good paying jobs at a time when so many families are struggling to make ends meet. You spoke out for an end to the war in Iraq. You spoke out for a quality, affordable health care system that works for all Americans.

"For that, we thank you.

"Your voices matter. And as President, Hillary Clinton will not only keep listening, but will make sure your voice is always heard."

With 32% reporting, Clinton is beating "uncommitted" 60-34, but according to the exits she lost to "uncommitted" among voters aged 18-44 and she also lost to "uncommitted" among African-American voters by an astonishing 70 to 26. - TOM BEVAN

9:37PM - John McCain just released his statement: "I congratulate Governor Romney on his victory tonight. He and his campaign worked hard and effectively to make sure Michigan voters welcomed their native son with their support. You have won the round and earned your celebration tonight. I salute you, and offer you my genuine good wishes for the night." - BLAKE DVORAK

9:32PM - With about 29% reporting, Mitt's lead is almost 10 points (39% to McCain's 30%). If it stays that way, then this is good win for Romney. He needs a decisive win and Michigan might be it. - BLAKE DVORAK

9:00PM - Just now on FOX, Brit Hume just called it for Mitt, with 9% reporting. - BLAKE DVORAK

8:53 PM - I'm keeping my eye on the returns from metro Detroit - which consists of Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne counties. It was here where McCain won huge in 2000. These six counties combined to give him a 49,000 vote advantage over Bush - nearly half of his total margin of victory. If Romney's play to GM/Ford/Chrysler anxieties is successful - he will probably win the race because of these six counties. JAY COST

8:24 PM - I was not expecting to be able to draw any inferences from the MI Dem race. But Fox News is reporting that African American voters are breaking heavily to "Uncommitted." That is very interesting to me. We'll see how things finish up - but that would be a bad sign for Clinton in South Carolina. JAY COST

8:16PM - While we're waiting for the first returns to come in, the campaigns continued elsewhere: Like in South Carolina, where the McCain campaign fired back against a group calling itself "Vietnam Veterans Against McCain." - BLAKE DVORAK

7:58PM - How does the saying go? Once an accident, twice a coincidence, three times a trend. If Romney wins tonight we'll have three different winners in the first three primary states (no offense, Wyoming) which means the only thing consistent about this year's Republican race thus far is chaos - and that makes Rudy Giuliani one very happy camper. - TOM BEVAN

7:45PM - One thing I will be interested in tonight is how many voters turned out. Carl Levin has been very aggressive in trying to secure Michigan a more prominent place in the primary calendar. At least for the Republicans - he got what he wanted. I wonder - if turnout tonight is low, will that hurt his chances of securing Michigan an early spot again in 2008? What happens if NH turnout is much higher than MI turnout? - JAY COST

7:40PM - John McCain from earlier today: "People ask me about turnout, we want republicans, democrats, libertarians, vegetarians, Trotskyites, whoever will come out and vote for us. And obviously we are trying to motivate our Republican base, but we want everybody." - BLAKE DVORAK

7:25PM - You have to wonder what could have depressed voter turnout today. The weather? Lack of enthusiasm for the field? Or just for Romney and McCain? Whatever the reason(s), it's not a good sign for th GOP. - BLAKE DVORAK

7:07PM It's no surprise the economy was the driving issue in Michigan, according to exit polls, and John McCain appears to have been on the losing end of the jobs debate with Mitt Romney over the last few days. While McCain was clearly right on the facts when he said that some of the lost jobs in the auto industry weren't coming back, if he loses tonight it may be because the facts weren't what voters wanted to hear - at least the way McCain served them up - and that voters responded more positively to Romney's optimism. - TOM BEVAN

6:59PM - It's a bit ironic: some people - but particularly Romney supporters, I believe - had been dismissive of the fact that the first two contests had boiled down to local contests and that Mike Huckabee had essentially succeeded in running to be Governor of Iowa, with McCain doing the same in New Hampshire. If Romney prevails tonight, he will have basically done the same thing, tailoring his message locally and pulling on his deep roots in the state. And tomorrow the circus will move on to the South, where Fred is running for Governor of South Carolina and Rudy is running for Governor of Florida. All politics does appear to be local this year. - TOM BEVAN

6:49PM - Polls don't close for a couple hours, but Hugh Hewitt has already begun the excessive gloating and feverish proclamations of the meaning of tonight's vote. He is nothing if not consistent.... - TOM BEVAN

6:38PM - According to Martin, exits say 68% identified themselves as Republicans, only 25% Indies, and 7% Democrats. If those numbers hold - which they may not - they're not what John McCain was hoping for. - TOM BEVAN

6:35PM - FWIW, local reaction from the Detroit News. - TOM BEVAN

6:33PM - Ambinder has more on exits. - TOM BEVAN

6:30PM - Geraghty has first peek at exits: Romney 35, McCain 29, Huck 15, Paul 10, Rudy 4. - TOM BEVAN