For GOP, Michigan Looms Large

Politico: Early Contest Shaping Up To Be Key To Nomination Fight

(The Politico)  By The Politico's Jonathan Martin

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It was Michigan Democrats who sought to end the stranglehold Iowa and New Hampshire have had on the presidential nominating process by angling for years to move up their primary.

Yet despite the best efforts of Sen. Carl Levin and company, it’s the Republican contest here that may have been given added relevance with the new Jan. 15 date.

The fact that Michigan could be the largest GOP domino to fall in rapid succession no matter how the early state calendar ends up being constructed - there are 61 delegates to be had here and over a million people could take part in the GOP primary, compared with the roughly 100,000 Iowans expected to caucus there - doesn’t seem to have penetrated the political consciousness.

Until this weekend, at least.

Each of the top GOP presidential candidates trekked to the upper reaches of Michigan to address Republican activists here at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference. It’s a biennial affair on the resort island, and one that has drawn its share of big-name political talent over the years.

But never has there been a get-together like this, where all of the party’s contenders make their case before about 1,000 Republicans who will be the foot soldiers in what could be a decisive primary in less than four months.

Unlike in Florida, where Democratic presidential hopefuls have pledged to not campaign out of deference to the DNC and the traditional early states, Michigan is expected to see GOP contenders early and often. Right now, the race here mirrors the contours of the broader GOP primary:

Mitt Romney has the best organization, Rudy Giuliani is late putting his team together but appears strong in the polls, Fred Thompson is as much x-factor as he is a threat and John McCain is in a precarious position.



Although other recent polls show Romney enjoying a lead, Giuliani appears strong despite having little organization in the state.

Aside from picking up the early backing of Miller, Giuliani has done little in Michigan. On Friday, he announced his first hire here.

It’s McCain who dominated the conversation at Mackinac’s famed Grand Hotel this weekend.

“McCain doesn’t have the kind of support from the party’s grass-roots leaders that he thought he would,” observes Bill Ballenger, a veteran Michigan political observer and editor of Inside Michigan Politics.

McCain, who ran away with the Michigan primary in 2000, was expected to go toe-to-toe with Romney - whose dad was Michigan’s governor in the ’60s - this time around.

But his dire financial situation forced him to thin out his staff in the state this summer and focus his resources on Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Still, he was left with key players such as Attorney General Mike Cox chairing his campaign and veteran operative John Yob running the day-to-day side.

But, unhappy with the new staff directing McCain’s campaign, Cox resigned his post this week and is no longer backing the Arizonan. And, sources tell Politico, Yob has been moved from Michigan to McCain’s national headquarters outside Washington, D.C., to take over as deputy political director.

Asked about the changes, McCain spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan would only say, “This campaign is all about looking forward.”

But many Michiganders think McCain’s hopes are dim. “Right now, there are a lot of [Republicans] that are hoping he does the right thing so they can move on without it being said they deserted him,” said one longtime Michigan politico who is backing Giuliani. McCain’s backers are “ripe ground for the other candidates,” he said.

Of course, it’s only natural that Giuliani backers would suggest that McCain is finished - they are hoping to win with many of the same voters that fueled his 2000 win.

[greco99-2009]

Some actual data to add to the opinion piece above.

Ron Paul comes in #3. Ahead of Guiliani...

Interesting...

Sen. John McCain came in second with 27%, followed by Rep. Ron Paul with 10.8%.

Frmr New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was close behind Paul, taking 10.62%. Frmr Sen. Fred Thompson took 7%. All five spoke before conference attendees this weekend, as did Rep. Duncan Hunter, who took 1% of the vote. Huckabee and Brownback were scheduled to appear, but cancelled on Friday.

Tancredo got 0 but is still considered a ''serious'' candidate..

[undermyboot]

Ron Paul is one of the few remaining true Republicans. The rest of the field are power-mad fascists in suits who left Conservative principles behind a LONG time ago.

These faux-conservatives have redefined "conservative" to fit their neocon definition: intrusion into people''s personal lives and privacy (i.e. spying, watch lists, etc), fiscal irresponsibility, an expansionist and unilateral foreign policy that entangles us in everyone else''s business, eroding the separation of church and state and allowing state funding of religion, eliminating any pretense that there is no Military-industrial complex that drives federal policy and money, power for powers sake, corruption and cronyism on an unprecedented scale, etc. These are all decidedly NOT CONSERVATIVE. This is a new brand of "conservatism" that leaves no place for Barry Goldwater, Ike, or even Ronald Reagan (whose memory is now used by the neocons as nothing more than an icon to rally the faithful, but who''s conservatism is no longer followed).

[undermyboot]

Here''s a great reason to vote for another Republican to succeed Mr. Bush:

Latest News: Congresswoman Harman (Chairwoman of House Terrorism subcommittee) revealed today that BUSH THREATENED CONGRESS with a bogus "terrorist threat" in order to scare Congress into voting for more dictatorial powers for Bush (It worked). On Aug. 2, just before Congress agreed to give Bush the power to spy on Americans without FISA warrants, Bush officials told Congress (in secret session) that CONGRESS was a target of an "IMMINENT ATTACK" and that the powers he wanted them to give him were needed to protect Congress from attack. Bush''s monkey in the Senate (Trent Lott) said, "Disaster could be at our doorstep". The intelligence agencies already knew that there was NO THREAT, but the truth only came out AFTER the vote. I guess Bush thought he could get away with this and no one would dare break silence (calling the lie a "state secret"). Too bad for him that at least one patriot told America what its petty dictator tried and lied about this time.

Can you smell a rat? A big, fascist, dictatorial, un-American, "Presidential" rat? This "King" is nothing more than a petty dictator-wannabe. He (and his cabal) should be tried and shot for crimes against our country, laws, and our Constitution. NOW! If Congress and the courts do not soon grow a pair our liberty and way of life are doomed. If you vote for these un-American fake Republicans you deserve the dictatorship it will bring.

[voteronpaul3]

**** TAKE AMERICA BACK ****
**** STOP THE WAR ****

Ron Paul has it all.

He has NEVER voted:
* to raise taxes
* for an unbalanced budget
* to raise congressional pay
* for a federal restriction on gun ownership
* to increase the power of the executive branch

He HAS voted:
* against the Iraq war
* against the inappropriately named USA PATRIOT act
* against regulating the internet
* against the Military Commissions Act

He will eliminate the IRS, Wasteful Government Spending & Stop The Iraq War Immediately!

Most importantly, he voted NO on anything in Congress that is not allowed by the Constitution.

He is the only candidate not a member of the CFR!

Shouldn''t ALL members of Congress uphold the Constitution? Aren''t they SWORN to uphold it? You can bet Paul won''t call the Constitution "just a G**D***ed piece of paper" like George Bush is reported to have.

If you want a candidate you can TRUST due to a proven track record, visit ronpaul2008.com and get busy spreading the word. The Mainstream Media is a lagging indicator!!

Ron Paul Revolution: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ron+paul

Get Active join a meetup.com group today!

Also checkout http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=federal reserve fraud

[voteronpaul3]

Ron Paul had a large support group there cheering more than any of the others and they cut him off after 15 minutes of speaking. Ron Paul is for the people unless you want your children to have human implant RFID chips, a National ID card and create a North American Union and see an economic collapse far worse than the great depression. Vote for Ron Paul he speaks the truth and the media and government is afraid of him go to youtune.com and search for Ron Paul and you will see his large base. Get motivated America, don''t believe the lies of the media he has also won 6 Straw Polls already as well! Go Ron Paul! Value Freedom instead of corporate lies and corruption.

[ianlou]

What this article fails to mention is that Michigan is number one in the nation for unemployment, home foreclosure, and dangerous cities. Some blame our Democrat Governor, others - our auto union mentality, more blame Bush''s support of NAFTA and free trade that is killing American manufacturing. The Republicans offer of "steady as we go - the American economy is thriving" won''t cut it in Michigan. And as for Rudy applying his wisdom as a former mayor of NY to the cities of Michigan, he will run into a very large obstacle he has no experience with; Some of the biggest cities (Detroit, Flint, Pontiac and Saginaw) are about Broke.

[thirdrailrad]

Check out the new hit piece on Fred Thompson, including a few things the media never talks about. To read it go to thirdrailradio.blogspot.com