Michigan Right to Life won’t be endorsing in the GOP primary.

A Thompson Associate is chuckling over this news, calling it “devastating for Romney.” This associate said Romney put considerable effort into getting that endorsement, including personal meetings. He notes that Romney supports – or is at least not opposed to – using “surplus embryos” for stem cell research. (See his explanation to Russert here.) The Thompson Associate believes this is what tripped up Romney, as the group may be seeking a statewide referendum on this issue on the ballot this year.

The National Right to Life has endorsed Thompson; while the neutrality of the state organization might be seen as bad news for the Tennessee Senator, Thompson is not expected to make much of a splash in Michigan.