Michigan officially leapfrogs New Hampshire, for now (Granholm says state's new primary date final)

September 4, 2007
Michigan officially leapfrogs New Hampshire, for now
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm says her state's new primary date is 'final.'

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed legislation moving her state’s 2008 presidential primary to January 15, temporarily placing it ahead of New Hampshire in the heavily front-loaded nominating calendar. The law went into effect Tuesday morning.

“While political maneuvering will no doubt continue, our move to January 15th is final,” Granholm, a Democrat, said in a statement.

The move to mid-January violates both national Democratic and Republican party rules. In August, a Democratic National Committee panel voted almost unanimously to strip the state of Florida of its say in the nomination process unless it delays its primary, currently scheduled for January 29. The DNC is likely to impose similar penalties on Michigan.

New Hampshire, which has written its first-in-the-nation primary status into state law, was tentatively scheduled for January 22, but now is expected to move earlier. Iowa, with its first-in-the-nation caucuses tentatively slated for January 14, is expected to make a similar move

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/09/04/michigan-officially-leapfrogs-new-hampshire-for-now/

have to make a decision about a candidate w/out ever meeting w/the candidate - and their votes will not be counted as I'm sure the DNC will sanction Michigan the way they sanctioned FL. How is this good for Michigan?

Losing the delegates is not a big deal because this is all about getting to have some influence in the primaries. Last year in Florida we had lots of delegates and ONE (Kerry) candidate to choose from.

This year, even without delegates, we'll have at least SOME influence (the media will cover the results). Same for Michigan, it's not the delegates, it's the influence. Which is why no one took up the DNC offer of getting more delegates the further back you voted in the primary...the delegates are meaningless.

Since they all agreed to boycott states that jump.

No big loss and a much better deal than 2004.

The winner will be the one who can afford early on to spend tons of money in the Michigan media markets.....the winner will buy the vote because those candidates without deep pockets will not be able to withstand the cost of the early primary's and the Michigan media market costs too.

Good Job Michigan! Just price the little guy out of the race.

In order to help the small money guys, fine...BUT those people better agree with that approach. If they don't agree to be marginalized, then you haven't done a good job explaining to them why they need to be marginalized...OR, they don't agree with your priority system.

and they just love all that money they rake from campaigns and media during those long months they spent pandering to a bunch of greedy and environmentally-unfriendly ethanol hucksters.

listen to reports on NPR, read periodicals and blogs. Saying you can't be informed if you don't meet the candidates is absurd.

You are that much more informed? Jumping past the rules that your state representatives voted for seem more absurd. Why have primaries? why not just a big ole free-for-all some time in July and whoever all voters of all parties like the best will be our president (hell, why even require people to be voters - as long as they can make a mark on a piece of paper or punch a chad or press a button they should not be disenfranchised!). Rules? We don't need any rules.

I live in a state where no candidate is likely ever to come. You wanna change the primary schedule? Do it now for 2012, not after you've already agreed to a schedule.

make that decision for them anymore.

The state legislatures and governors have to listen to their constituents over some sub-committee. In 2012, no matter what the DNC sub-committee decides, I think more and more states are going to line up where their people want to be.

set down in December of 2005.

I welcome all Michiganders to the new and improved Axis of Evil. :)

To heck with those doggone party rules!

LOL. What a hypocrite! Your vote shouldn't count, but gimme gimme gimme some money!!! :puke:

"Blanchard said he agreed with Republicans that the candidates' absence could hurt Democrats in the general election. But he said the pledge that Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and other candidates have signed leaves open plenty of room for activity.

"I think it as a mistake to sign this pledge," Blanchard said. "We'll just have to work harder."

The pledge specifically allows candidates to make fundraising visits in Michigan and Florida, two big sources of campaign cash.

Blanchard also suggested that visits by candidates' spouses might be allowable.

Elizabeth Edwards is expected to raise money for her husband in Michigan this week, although details haven't been announced."

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070905/POLITICS01/709050387