LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan voters worried that they can't sell their houses or themselves in a troubled economy have made jobs a hot topic for presidential candidates hoping to win here Tuesday.

"I want to see my fellow Americans continue to enjoy the lifestyle I've enjoyed," retired nurse Mary Ann Bernardi of Troy said Thursday after listening to Democrat Dennis Kucinich promise to end free trade agreements he says have cost American jobs.

"I especially want to see jobs come back to America," added Bernardi, who considers herself an independent. "I want to see legislators stand up to American companies."

For more than a year, Michigan has had the nation's worst unemployment rate — 7.4 percent in November — and it's expected to rise this year. The state has lost nearly 300,000 manufacturing jobs since mid-2000, the auto industry is expected to continue to shed jobs through at least 2009 and personal income is growing below the national average.

The negative numbers don't stop there. The state has seen its population dip by 30,500 residents — three-tenths of 1 percent — in the past year, while residential investment spending has fallen 23.4 percent from its peak in the fourth quarter of 2005. October housing starts were down 46.4 percent from the peak two years ago and the foreclosure rate is among the nation's highest.

Rising interest and energy rates have pushed down consumer spending, further dampening the economy and state revenues.

Michigan native Mitt Romney, whose father ran American Motors Corp. before becoming governor, says he feels Michigan's pain. On Friday, the former Massachusetts governor released a new ad in which he pledged to change Washington to help revive the state's economy.

"I grew up in Michigan when Michigan was the pride of America. It breaks my heart to see us in a one-state recession," he said in the ad. "We can change that. We need new leaders with the experience and energy to turn us around. Let's invest in the future with new technology and innovation and unleash the power of Michigan."

Arizona Sen. John McCain has promised federal help to retrain displaced workers if he's elected president. But he wasn't making any promises about jobs.

"There are some jobs that aren't coming back to Michigan," he said during a Thursday night debate in South Carolina.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee took his message about Michigan's suffering and the effect on its citizens to the Detroit Economic Club on Friday, praising Michigan's efforts during World War II as the country's "Arsenal of Democracy."

"There was a time in this country when Michigan saved America. Now it is time for America to help save Michigan," Huckabee said.

Lansing pollster Ed Sarpolus of EPIC-MRA called the economy the No. 1 issue in Michigan.

"If you're a Democrat or a Republican, it doesn't make any difference," he said. "You see that all three candidates are addressing it some way."

But there's more to discuss than just the troubled economy, or issues that stop at the Michigan border.

Lee Amtsbuechler, 69, a retired Steelcase Inc. worker from East Grand Rapids, doesn't like what he considers excessive federal spending.

"The most important issue is to listen to the people, so they don't have to pass all these bills with all the pork that goes along with them that nobody wants," he said earlier this week while waiting for Romney to appear.

Rose Reid, 64, of East Grand Rapids said she wants the next president to be concerned about the war in Iraq and illegal immigration.

"I don't think we can pull out in the war," said Reid, a retired bank worker who said she usually votes for Republican candidates and is leaning toward Romney — or McCain. "That scares me."

Reid also opposes granting amnesty to illegal immigrants.

"I think there's got to be another way," she said.

Charlie Owens, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business-Michigan, said Friday in a release that small business owners are having trouble finding health plans that they can afford for themselves and their employees and want the presidential candidates to pay attention to that issue.

Social issues such as abortion also are on voters' minds, said Craig Ruff of Public Sector Consultants, a Lansing think tank.

"You have the values voters, and whether the topic is a candidate's faith or the issue of abortion, you always have some people coming out on the hot-button issues," he said.