Michigan: presidential primary to be 15 January
Daily Kos contributors discuss the causes and effects of the Michigan Supreme Cout decision to hold the presidential primary on 15 January. Here are a few highlights:
The decision was four to three, with the solid bloc of four right-wing Republicans (Young, Markman, Corrigan, and Taylor) outvoting the two Democrats (Kelly and Cavanagh) and one disaffected Republican (Weaver). ...
Election officials, including the Michigan Association of County Clerks, had urged the Secretary of State not to appeal the original court ruling, given the now very limited time left to prepare for the election. It will now be essentially impossible for overseas absentees, such as troops in Iraq, to participate in the election via absentee ballot. ...
There are many political reasons behind support and opposition to the primary. Republicans wanted a state primary. Democrats had a quasi-caucus in 2004, and were prepared to do it again. Republicans were relying on a primary. There is no official party registration in Michigan, so nothing would keep Democrats from voting in the Republican primary. With Democrats not competing in a primary at the same time, Republicans were concerned that Democrats might cause mischief, as in 2000 when John McCain crushed George W. Bush, largely because of tens of thousands of Democrats voting for McCain in the Republican primary. -- Daily Kos: Musical Primaries