(cross-posted at MichiganLiberal.com)
The last local political event I attended was Democracy for Metro Detroit's open 9th Congressional District candidate forum back in early February, at which we had 6 candidates attend (Democrats Nancy Skinner, John Ashcraft, Rhonda Ross and Frank Cona; Republican Pan Godchaux; and Libertarian Bob Schubring). As a brand-new father (our first child was born in February), I've been out of the loop politically since that time.
Well, things have changed quickly since then. First I learned that both Rhonda Ross and Frank Cona have bowed out of the race; now, according to D4MD.org, it looks like John Ashcraft is bowing out as well!
Conversely, in a related note, Pan Godchaux
IS running in the Republican primary against Joe Knollenberg.
Assuming this is true--and I certainly trust D4MD, seeing how I'm the webmaster for it!--What does this mean?
Well, it means two important things just happened:
1. 9th CD Dems no longer have to worry about which Democratic candidate to vote for; it appears that Nancy Skinner is now unopposed for the nomination.
2. Incumbent Knollenberg could very well be knocked out of the Republican primary by Pan Godchaux, which would mean that no matter what happens in November, Joe Knollenberg would be toast! (Well, unless he ran as an Independent, which I find highly unlikely).
I'll leave it up to others to factor in what a third point--the fact that Michigan voters can vote in whichever primary they wish to--means for the first two points :)