8 Questions and Answers about the (Confusing) Michigan Primary

[Xipe Totec]

1. Why did Michigan change its primary date from Feb. 26 to Jan. 15?

Michigan's legislature set the Jan. 15 primary deadline for the same reason any state front-loads its contest: to gain greater influence over the presidential nominating process. When she signed the bill in September that set the Jan. 15 primary, Democratic Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm said Michigan's electorate "deserves a primary process that requires candidates to address the issues they will be held accountable for in the general election."

"The January 15th primary in Michigan accomplishes precisely this goal," she said.


2. What are the consequences of the new primary date?

Both national parties have said that states will be penalized for holding primaries or caucuses before Feb. 5. Democrats made exceptions for Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada to respect the historical early role of Iowa and New Hampshire and increase the geographical and demographic diversity by adding South Carolina and Nevada; meanwhile, Republicans give a pass to Iowa and Nevada, as their caucuses technically are not binding contests. As a consequence, both of Michigan's delegations have been cut. The Republican National Committee cut Michigan's GOP delegation to the Republican National Convention in half to 30 delegates. The Democratic National Committee stripped Michigan Democrats of their entire 156-person delegation to the Democratic National Convention.

3. Why did Republicans only cut half of their party's delegation, while the Democrats excluded them all?

4. With no delegates, why should Democrats show up on Tuesday?

5. What voting implications might there be on primary day?

6. What will happen after the primary, in terms of the impact on the nominations?

7. Among Democrats, who needs to win this most and why?

8. Among Republicans, who needs to win this most and why?


The rest of the answers here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20080111/pl_cq_politics/politics2654438

[skipos]

1. I am voting UNCOMMITTED. Gore, Edwards, Obama, Richardson, Biden supporters should do the same.

imo

[alpizzy]

3. Me too...

But I'm having trouble convincing co-workers to do the same.
Most are going to sit this one out. Argggghh.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Today is the first time I've been told the Repubs cut New Hampshire's delegation in half

and half of something fairly small is pretty meaningless. I'd have thought that ought to have been pointed out occasionally when they were reporting Repub results in NH.

[HeraldSquare212]

4. Be interesting if uncommitted wins nt