Voters: 'It's like we don't count' - Mich. primary fuels anger, apathy

Breeze54

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Mon Jan-07-08 05:57 AM
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Voters: 'It's like we don't count' - Mich. primary fuels anger, apathy

Edited on Mon Jan-07-08 06:09 AM by Breeze54

Voters: 'It's like we don't count'

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080107/NEWS06/801070333

Democratic ballot in Mich. primary fuels anger, apathy

January 7, 2008

BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

It's NASCAR on bicycles, Halloween with no costumes and Miss America without swimsuits.

Michigan's Democratic presidential primary on Jan. 15 is a contest in name only, with just one major candidate -- Hillary Clinton -- on the ballot.

While Republicans look forward to choosing from a large field of candidates, Democratic voters are angry and confused.

"It's like we don't count," said Barbara Pegg, 61, a Brownstown Township Democrat.

She said she was excited by the prospects of an open primary at first, but now she doesn't plan to vote Jan. 15.

Her favorite candidate, John Edwards, won't be on the ballot. She said she would vote for Clinton in November if the former first lady were the Democratic nominee.

"I toyed with voting for Kucinich, just to make a statement," Pegg said, referring to Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who trails nationally in polls.

Edwards, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson decided not to participate in Michigan's primary because the state Democratic Party's decision to hold a primary before Feb. 5 violates national party rules. The Democratic National Committee has threatened to not seat Michigan's delegates at the national convention, though state party officials say that won't happen.

Clinton isn't campaigning in Michigan, in deference to the national party rules. The others on the Democratic ballot are also-rans: Kucinich and Mike Gravel, who are campaigning, and Chris Dodd, who's already withdrawn from the race.

On Jan. 15, supporters of Obama and Edwards can stay home, choose from one of the Democrats on the ballot, vote "uncommitted" (with no guarantee their preferred candidate will receive delegates at the national convention in August), or vote in the Republican primary.

Sharon Brown, 54, who manages a trailer park in Farmington Hills, said the lack of choice on the Democratic ballot is un-American and unfair.

She wanted to vote for Obama or Edwards, and doesn't trust that her vote for "uncommitted" will mean anything.

"Why did they have to move the primary up?" Brown said. "I would like my voice to be heard, and it's not.
When do we blue-collar people get a chance to be heard? They're taking away our right as Americans to have a choice."

No contest means no-shows

Not only will they have little choice on the ballot, they won't get to see their candidates in the flesh. That could come back to haunt Democratic candidates later if Michigan voters feel shunned and lose enthusiasm for the eventual nominee.

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That was news to Ed Coe, 66, of Bloomfield Township. He obtained an absentee ballot to vote in his first Democratic primary -- he usually votes Republican -- and said he's impressed with Obama.

"If a person doesn't want to vote for Hillary, they don't have much choice," Coe said, adding that he doesn't like any of the Republican candidates.

"I may not vote under these circumstances."

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