The Democratic National Committee's decision to bar Florida's delegates (and possibly Michigan's) from participating in next August's convention needs to be reversed. Immediately. Not only does it effectively disenfranchise primary voters from these two very important swing states, it allows the GOP to gain exposure in otherwise blue-leaning states.
While the leading (and some 2nd-tier) Democratic candidates have signed a "Four State Pledge," caving in to IA, NH, NV, and SC (great diary, BTW, okamichan13), the GOP has planned a primary right here in Dearborn on October 9th, according to WDIV's "Click on Detroit" website.
FTFA (sorry, another Fark-ism): Michigan GOP Chairman Saul "Anuzis said the debate will give Republicans another step up over their Democratic rivals, most of whom have signed pledges not to campaign in Michigan." Sure, the Dems are still holding "fundraisers" in Florida, according to the Herald-Tribune, but those on the Right are sure to bring up the aforementioned Pledge and claim hypocrisy. I would have to agree; the Pledge seems to hold about as much weight as a non-binding resolution. As for Michigan, Marie Horrigan from CQPolitics.com reminds everybody that we just made Jan. 15th our official date this week, so I'm expecting a response from the DNC and the four "line leader" states soon. Forgetting the fact for a moment that a mid-January primary (versus a caucus) would be paid by the taxpayers and would theoretically favor Sen. Clinton (not my preferred candidate), I would have to agree with the MI Democratic Party when they say, "Michigan Democrats believe that no state should enjoy a privileged position every four years in selecting our party’s presidential nominee."
This is getting way too ridiculous, way too fast. Let's not give the Michigan and Florida Democratic primaries the significance (and attention) of straw polls while the Repubs build up support. Iowa, New Hampshire, et. al., hold too much power, at least over the DNC. The GOP isn't afraid to risk delegates by standing up to the "starter" states. In her article, Ms. Horrigan reports that Michigan Republicans don't "expect the national party to follow through" with their threat. "We’re pretty confident that all of our delegates are going to get seated and that their votes are going to count at the convention," a spokesman says.
According to the FEC, through the second-quarter of 2007, Mitt Romney has raised more than a half-million dollars more in Michigan than all the Democratic candidates combined. I believe he will be the Republican nominee, despite his lack of convictions. Grandpa Fred will undoubtedly fall asleep during a debate, Rudy will forget to clean off his mascara in the green room, and McCain, after being forced to pawn his bus, will be accosted in his taxi by his driver after telling him to go back to his home country. Democrats will need to spend as much time as possible courting independent voters -- telling them that their vote won't count if they participate in our primary in January really isn't the best way to convince them to vote for us in November.