If Mitt Romney is to win Michigan's 16 crucial electoral votes in November's general election, his campaign will need to reach out to an area in Oakland County thought to be a stronghold of the Democratic Party.

At least, that's what those close to him — Ronna Romney, a former GOP senate candidate and former sister-in-law of the Republican Presidential candidate, and Ronna Romney McDaniel, his niece who is spearheading his campaign in Michigan — said Friday. Both live in Northville.

Canvassing in West Bloomfield's Thornberry Apartments prior to a "Women for Mitt" family picnic at the Drake Sports Park with Romney McDaniel's young daughter Abigail, the Romneys said that while they believe Michigan is certainly in play, it would take a grassroots effort to make it so.

"I feel very good about Oakland County and I think it's the lynchpin of Michigan," said Romney, originally of the west side of Detroit. "I hope people tonight will say, you know, 'I just had three generations of Romneys visit me and they feel the way I feel.' Maybe they'll tell their friends. You can't take one vote for granted."

Romney said she has been frequently appearing on talk radio and television talk shows lately, extolling the virtues of the campaign, prior to heading to the Republican National Convention in early September.

According to Romney, women should play a crucial role in this year's election. She claims that women's unemployment has increased in the four years since President Barack Obama took office and as the "practical" voice in the decision-making process of American households, Romney expects women to turn away from the incumbent.

"I’m hearing people on the radio say, I voted for Obama, but I’m disappointed. I think you’re going to see some disaffected Democrats say you know what, country first," Romney said. "What I’m finding people are saying is that we have to put our house in order and that means jobs."

Romney McDaniel spoke of a man she had visited who told her he had "lost all hope." 

"I think that’s indicative of a lot of people who expected Obama to come in and fix everything on day one," Romney McDaniel said. "Now he’s waited until the eleventh hour but we have a candidate who is going to fix it on day one."

• More on Northville Patch: Q&A With Northville Resident Ronna Romney McDaniel