LANSING -- The Republican presidential race in Michigan couldn't get much tighter.

The latest poll, conducted by NBC News and Marist, shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney with 37 percent of the likely Michigan GOP voters and former Senator Rick Santorum with 35 percent.

Thirteen percent support Representative Ron Paul, and eight percent back former Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Michigan is considered Romney's home state, and analysts say a loss by him here could be devastating to his campaign.

The poll was conducted Sunday and Monday and involved 1147 likely voters. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percent.