Michigan post-mortem
January 18th 2008 02:07
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton won with a clear majority. However, Obama and Edwards took their names off the ballot in protest of Michigan moving up their primary, so the victory was a little hollow. No delegates were at stake in the race.
There was a troubling sign for Hillary in Michigan, though.
If Hillary is having that much trouble drawing in African-American voters in the Democratic primaries, it could mean trouble for the future of her candidacy.
Mitt Romney won on the Republican side. Late polls had the race being a toss-up between Romney and McCain, but Romney won convincingly. McCain tried to write it off as a case of Romney winning his home state. I'm sure there was some truth to that, but it's also true that late-deciders broke sharply for Romney. Maybe the Michigan GOP voters didn't appreciate McCain's "straight talk" as much as the New Hampshire voters did.
From the GOP results, I think the biggest story has to do with the inability of anyone to get any real momentum in the race. Huckabee couldn't translate an Iowa victory into a New Hampshire win. McCain couldn't translate a New Hampshire victory into a Michigan win. It doesn't appear that Romney will be victorious in the next GOP primary. As was the case after the New Hampshire primary, the GOP race is still wide open. Again, this is a good thing for the 46 states that have yet to cast a single vote. It's frustrating when the momentum of a candidate washes over your state primary and makes your own vote largely irrelevant. If this current trend continues, there won't be any quick coronation this year (in either party, it seems).
This Saturday: Nevada for both parties and South Carolina for the GOP.
There was a troubling sign for Hillary in Michigan, though.
Even so, roughly 70 percent of Michigan’s African-American voters — a group that makes up a quarter of Michigan’s Democratic electorate — did not cast their votes for Clinton, choosing the “uncommitted” option instead. Yet these voters weren’t uncommitted at all: in fact, according to CNN exit polls, they overwhelmingly favored Barack Obama, whose name did not appear on the ballot.
If Hillary is having that much trouble drawing in African-American voters in the Democratic primaries, it could mean trouble for the future of her candidacy.
Mitt Romney won on the Republican side. Late polls had the race being a toss-up between Romney and McCain, but Romney won convincingly. McCain tried to write it off as a case of Romney winning his home state. I'm sure there was some truth to that, but it's also true that late-deciders broke sharply for Romney. Maybe the Michigan GOP voters didn't appreciate McCain's "straight talk" as much as the New Hampshire voters did.
From the GOP results, I think the biggest story has to do with the inability of anyone to get any real momentum in the race. Huckabee couldn't translate an Iowa victory into a New Hampshire win. McCain couldn't translate a New Hampshire victory into a Michigan win. It doesn't appear that Romney will be victorious in the next GOP primary. As was the case after the New Hampshire primary, the GOP race is still wide open. Again, this is a good thing for the 46 states that have yet to cast a single vote. It's frustrating when the momentum of a candidate washes over your state primary and makes your own vote largely irrelevant. If this current trend continues, there won't be any quick coronation this year (in either party, it seems).
This Saturday: Nevada for both parties and South Carolina for the GOP.
| 72 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Lester Caudill
Round Politics
You are right there is no clear leader in any party as of yet, and many are talking about a split in the Republican Party something I hope doesn't happen.
I just hope at the end of the day not matter which Republican candidate is nominated the whole base will come out and support that person.
We as a nation have to much to loss if the wrong candidate wins, and any of the Dems would be a disaster.
Comment by Louie
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
I could probably support any of the Republicans other than McCain. He has so thoroughly irked me over the years that I can't stomach him. His stance on and arrogance over the illegal immigration issue really was the last straw for me. If he gets the nomination, I may vote for the Dem. I'd rather get stabbed in the front than in the back.
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Democrats
Republicans
Our election process is sort of like sausage-making. It's a pretty convoluted system. I'm guessing that we'll have a clearer picture of what's going on after February 5th, though. That's Super Duper Tuesday.