From Reuters
Four Democratic candidates on Tuesday formally decided not to participate in the Michigan presidential primary on January 15 because the nominating contest was being held too early, Michigan election officials said.
Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina -- the two top rivals to front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton -- informed state officials they would not take part in the primary, said Kelly Chesney, a spokeswoman for the Michigan secretary of state.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware also informed the state they would not participate, she said.
I am resident of Michigan... and this is kind of a drag...
Here's the rub: I understand that our primary schedule is beyond FUBAR. I understand that it needs to be changed and I applaud those who are making the efforts to get some sanity injected into our primary process. The speed at which the primaries are going to happen as it stands is mind boggling as it is.... but to find out that my four favorite Democratic candidates will be giving my state a miss because of some primary rules leaves me feeling a little disenfranchised, and I try to be as much of an optimist as is humanly possible.
I still have not decided who "my candidate" is.... although I like Obama and Edwards a lot, and I'd really like to see Joe Biden or even Bill Richardson in the flesh and maybe get a chance to meet them, but now I won't get that opportunity at all. I mean, I don't really like Hillary Clinton that much, but that will not stop me from voting for her if she gets the nomination. Maybe she just fails to get me fired up like some of the other candidates do on occasion, but she is a hell of a lot better than any candidate the Republicans can dredge up and it will be fun to see her kick the living whizz out of them in the general election.... but it looks like she is going to be the only one with any chance (Not to knock Gravel or Kucinich, whom I do have respect for.) that I will be seeing campaign in my home state.
I'm very leery of the whole monarchical-sounding stream of events that would transpire if Senator Clinton wins the nomination and thus the Presidency, but more and more I am seeing this "Inevitable Candidate" narrative come true. I can't say I'm super excited about it, but I also am not totally crushed, as I was when say.... Al Gore had the election stolen from him in 2000 or Senator Kerry lost in 2004. This is the first primary that I've ever really been fired up about (let alone being allowed to participate in.) and the candidates that I actually like and want to meet are going to completely stand me up. I just feel like I'm getting a raw deal for simply being resident of the beautiful Michigan.
Kind of a bummer, considering that Michigan is one of the bluest states in the Midwest. We did go for Kerry in 2004, after all.