The Battle for Michigan

Tomorrow, voters in our countries 8th largest state, will go out and vote in their state's primary. This really is a story about the Republican nomination, as the steam went out of the Democratic race in Michigan a long time ago. When the state decided to move up it's primary, the Democratic National Party removed all it's delegates from the State and both Barrack Obama and John Edwards took the extra step of removing their names from the ballot. In Michigan, a democratic voter has only two options - vote for HIllary Rodham Clinton or vote undecided. There is no write in option. This blogger is encouraging ALL voters in Michigan who may be reading this to vote your conscience tomorrow, whatever your ballot options my be, you can still vote uncommitted.

On the Republican side of things, Senator McCain and former Governor Romney are in a neck and neck race. McCain does have an advantage in Michigan, in that all voters can participate in the primary, and he won't have to compete with Obama for the votes of Independents. McCain won the state handily against George W. Bush in 2000 because of the Independent vote. Time will tell if history will repeat.

Michigan really is a must win state for Romney. He was born and raised in Michigan and his father was the one time Governor of the state. With two second places in the previous contest, the outcome in Michigan is of vital importance to Romney to keep his candidacy viable.

The battle between the two candidates really is an ideological one and no place demonstrates that better than Michigan. Senator McCain is famous for his "Straight Talk" express. He believes that he should tell the American people how he really sees it, even if it may be something that they don't want to hear. McCain believes that the economy in Michigan is undergoing a fundamental change as the American automakers lose ground to foreign competitors. McCain says that certain types of jobs are leaving Michigan ( and other parts of our country) and they won't be coming back. Reagan told the people of Michigan the same thing back in 1980 and won the state handily. So, the outcome of the primary there may well be determined by which point of view about the jobs in Michigan that the voters believe. After all, at 7.4%,Michigan has the dubious distinction of claiming the nation's worst unemployment rate. In fact, jobs were the number one concern for voters back in 2004, and with the loss of 451,000 jobs in that state since 2001, it's a good bet that unemployment continues to be the number one concern of voters there.

Former Governor Romney was also a very successful business man in the private sector. He says that not only are Michigan's manufacturing jobs worth fighting for, but that we must fight for them. Our country was once a powerhouse of manufacturing in the world, and unless we want to see our country decline further, we must reclaim that role. He suggests that innovation in the auto industry is the way to turn this situation around.

It is interesting to note though that Governor Romney does not support the legislation passed in December which require greater fuel economy, while Senator McCain not only supports this legislation, but voted for it. The Consumer Federation of America claims that this legislation will cut the import of foreign oil by 15% and reduce emissions by 1 billion tons. I fully support this legislation, and feel that our companies need to be more progressive and innovative to compete with foreign competitors, who as of right now, are simply doing it better.

Yes, the outcome in Michigan will have huge implications for our country. It will be interesting to see what the Obama effect will be, and where the chips will fall.