AP: Four Democrats Pull Out of Michigan Primary

[flpoljunkie]

Will Florida be next?

4 Democrats Pull Out of Michigan Primary
By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN

The Associated Press
Tuesday, October 9, 2007; 1:35 PM


LANSING, Mich. -- Four Democratic candidates have withdrawn from Michigan's Jan. 15 presidential primary, undercutting the validity of the contest.

Barack Obama, John Edwards and Bill Richardson filed paperwork Tuesday, the deadline to withdraw from the ballot, said Kelly Chesney, spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State's office.

A fourth candidate, Joe Biden, said in a statement that he was withdrawing from Michigan's beauty contest.

"Today's decision reaffirms our pledge to respect the primary calendar as established by the DNC and makes it clear that we will not play into the politics of money and Republican machinations that only serve to interfere with the primary calendar," said Biden for President Campaign Manager Luis Navarro.

All of the Democratic candidates already have agreed not to campaign in Michigan because it broke Democratic National Committee rules when it moved its primary ahead of Feb. 5.

Other Democratic candidates had until the end of the day to decide if they'll stay on the ballot.

Party rules say states cannot hold their 2008 primary contests before Feb. 5, except for Iowa on Jan. 14, Nevada on Jan. 19, New Hampshire on Jan. 22 and South Carolina on Jan. 29.

The calendar was designed to preserve the traditional role that Iowa and New Hampshire have played in selecting the nominee, while adding two states with more racial and geographic diversity to influential early slots.

As punishment, the DNC has vowed to strip Michigan and Florida, which scheduled its contest on Jan. 29, of their delegates.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/09/AR2007100900936.html

[cyclezealot]

1. SC, NV with their voting history

a representative choice of blue state interests. Right.

[Lucinda]

2. What are the expected repercussions of this?

For those pulling out and those staying? I'm a bit uninformed here...

[Debi]

3. Looks like it's a contest between Clinton, Dodd, Gravel and Kucinich

for Michigan's 157 delegates to the national convention (if they'll be seated).

[Armstead]

4. I think I saw on TV that thee won't be delegates

On MSNBC I believe I heard that the DNC was not allowing Michigan delegates if they hold the early primary.

I could be wrong, but...

[flpoljunkie]

5. Michigan has turned its primary into a beauty contest--just like Florida.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. That's what they are saying, but in reality if the nominee wants them seated they will be seated