Mitt Romney may be over-relying on his dad’s coattails to do well in Michigan, political insiders in the state tell Big Head DC.

“Sure, George Romney was seen as a great governor for the state in the 1960s,” one source familiar with the current Romney campaign told us. “But that was a generation ago. Most people in their thirties and even forties don’t remember George, let alone ones in their twenties.”

Many believe that John McCain holds far greater name recognition for younger voters, and his 2000 win in the state is still fondly remembered. Indeed, the McCain victory might have cost then-Gov. John Engler a VP seat on the George W. Bush ticket, since Engler promised he’d help bring home a win for Bush among Michiganders.

The current race in the Great Lakes state is seen as an important one for Romney to win, if he wants to continue on in the GOP primary process. To date, he’s fared much worse than pundits had expected.