Kos is encouraging people to vote for Mitt Romney. That is a wasted vote. Democrats for John Edwards and Barack Obama should vote for Uncommitted. A grassroots movement for Uncommitted has arisen in Michigan, and has the potential to influence the national debate. Think, "Clinton Loses to None of the Above," headlines the next day.
Michigan Democrats have three options on the ballot on Tuesday. Clinton, Kucinich and Uncommitted. Uncommitted, an idea that started on the netroots. Now, a full fledged grassroots movement for Uncommitted has arisen. Here's how the USA today describes it:
A group of several hundred Michigan voters plan to knock on doors, make calls and hold rallies for a rather unconventional candidate in next Tuesday's primary — uncommitted. <snip> Detroiters for Uncommitted Voters, most of whom say they are supporting Obama, want to make sure that people don't avoid the polls Tuesday because their favorite candidate isn't on the ballot.
Monica Coyners, the wife of Representative John Coyners says:
"Democratic voters have been disenfranchised, indeed had their vote rendered meaningless, by not being able to vote for viable Democratic candidates because of Democratic party rules that evade reality," said Monica Conyers. "We urge Democratic party voters to cast a ballot for uncommitted if the candidate of their choice, such as Senator Barack Obama, is not on the ballot."
Senator Carl Levin is also urging Democrats that don't support Clinton to vote for Uncommitted, according to the Free Press:
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, today defended Michigan’s early Jan. 15 primary, despite the absence of Democratic luminaries Barack Obama and John Edwards from the Democratic ballot.
He urged Democrats to vote nonetheless, either for Hillary Clinton, whose name is on the ballot, or for the "uncommitted" slot. If enough voters choose "uncommitted," Obama and Edwards could gain Michigan delegates.
Rep. Bart Stupak of the Upper Peninsula, a strong supporter of John Edwards, says he is going to vote for uncommitted:
"Democrats have only one candidate to vote for and that’s Hillary. The rest you have to vote for ‘uncommitted.’ I’m voting ‘uncommitted.’
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton pledged not to campaign in the state. A poll taken just before the Uncommitted campaign started in earnest showed Clinton 45-Uncommitted 30. However, it appears that Uncommitted has a GOTV operation and Clinton doesn't. Plus, it's hard to get your voters to the polls when you're the only one on the ballot. I think Uncommitted has an outside chance at victory. If so, it'd be a total disaster for Clinton. This is basically a no-lose situation for those of us that support other candidates, and a no-win situation for Clinton.
A triumph of Uncommitted would be the ultimate victory for grassroots activists who saw their right to vote be diminished by party insiders. Vote uncommitted in Michigan on Tuesday!