Mich. - Senator John McCain's campaign roared back to life yesterday with wins in Michigan and his home state of Arizona. McCain beat George W. Bush in the open Michigan contest by cobbling together a combination of moderate Republicans, independents, and a surprisingly large number of Democrats. Next up for Republicans are the Virginia , North Dakota and Washington primaries on Feb. 29.
Democrats also have a primary in Washington on the same day.
In a symbol of this topsy-turvy election, McCain's Michigan victory came as the ink was barely dry on many ''Bush comeback'' stories. Exactly three weeks earlier, McCain won by 18 points in New Hampshire. Then Bush won South Carolina. Now the McCain comeback launches the Republican contest into a dramatic two-week dash toward the March 7 blockbuster round of more than a dozen primaries and caucuses. Bush had hoped to dispatch McCain in Michigan, where the Texas governor was backed by the political machine of the state's controversial governor, Republican John Engler.