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Question for the week
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Posted: 01/15/08 Today is the Michigan State Primary, but from what I can see it’s a non-event. The Democratic National Committee put the state committee on notice that it will not recognize any Democratic delegates from Michigan at the summer convention in Denver because the state committee pushed its primary ahead of other states and scheduled it for today. The result is that two of the front running Democratic candidates not only haven’t visited Michigan, they have also removed their names from the primary ballots. The other candidates are on the ballot, but haven’t made much of an appearance. This is understandable when the votes aren’t going to count anyway. So Michigan’s Democrats have two choices: either declare themselves as Democrats and vote in a primary that’s a moot point or cross over and declare themselves as Republicans to skew that party’s vote. I’ve driven by my local polling place twice today and haven’t seen a car in the parking lot either time. Which makes me think voters, regardless of party affiliation, are opting for a third choice: staying home. This turn of events makes me wonder about the practicality of having ALL states conduct their caucuses or primaries on the same day. In essence that’s what Super Tuesday, February 5, is about as approximately twenty-two states will vote for their candidate of choice on that day. In 2004, only ten states voted on Super Tuesday, so perhaps it’s fair to say others support this point of view. I see disadvantages: The candidates would likely spend their time and money in the states with the most delegate votes, and states like Iowa and New Hampshire would have to give up their fifteen minutes of quadrennial fame. But I see advantages: The whole process could be over more quickly. If Super Tuesday were pushed back into May or June, it would be closer in time to the national conventions. Maybe people would become more excited if they didn’t have to endure such lengthy campaigns. And maybe more people would come out to the polls. It’s all conjecture at this point, but I think it’s worth pursuing.
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