And considering that Yoopers do elect pro-choice candidates such as State Senator Mike Prusi into office, I'd have to say that Saltonstall's pro-choice views weren't as important as she claims in her stated reason for withdrawing.
What did Saltonstall in was the fact she was a "troll" (a person who lived south of the Makinac Bridge). Yoopers (residents of the Upper Peninsula) tend to stick with their own.
"Saltonstall had visited the Upper Peninsula in recent weeks to meet voters and gauge support.
She said she is withdrawing from the race because the Democrats in the U.P. and state party leadership
are backing Gary McDowell, D-Rudyard, in the race."
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/544009.html?nav=5001With the Upper Peninsula accounting for about half the vote in the district and their tendency to vote for a fellow Yooper, it would have been almost impossible for Saltonstall to defeat McDowell in the primary or defeat a Republican candidate from the U.P. in the general election.
Connie's statement:
"I am forced to do this because it has become apparent to my campaign that the leadership of the Michigan Democratic Party has preemptively anointed Gary McDowell as their Democratic candidate.
They are replacing Bart Stupak with another Upper Peninsula, anti-choice, anti-women’s health-care rights
candidate."
Had pro-choice State Senator Prusi decided to run, the same thing would have happened to Saltonstall. The Democrats in the Upper Peninsula and the MDP would have rallied behind Prusi because he is a Yooper. One ought to note that ardent anti-choicer State Representative Joel Sheltrown, who, like Connie, is a troll, dropped out of the race earlier this month. Also, pro-choice candidate Matt Gillard, who is also a troll, dropped out the day after Connie did and has since endorsed Gary McDowell.