tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post4533842876710823299..comments2024-03-26T05:22:08.256-04:00Comments on Frontloading HQ: Michigan Democrats Opt In to March 8 Presidential PrimaryJosh Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06301836432446874997noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-62274383039603334272015-03-26T23:34:52.080-04:002015-03-26T23:34:52.080-04:00Michigan Democrats have had an on-again, off-again...<i>Michigan Democrats have had an on-again, off-again relationship with the presidential primary in the Great Lakes state over the years.</i><br /><br />Eh, not really. This is actually a break from most of the recent cycles. The last legitimate Democratic primary in Michigan was in 1992. In 1996 there was a caucus to formally confirm Clinton; in 2000 and 2004 we had Saturday party-run affairs; and 2012 was much like 1996 with a Saturday caucus to ratify Obama's renomination.<br /><br />In that context, the 2008 clusterf**k can be seen as a one-time attempt to gain Michigan influence. (An attempt, of course, which failed in spectacular fashion.) The original MDP plan for 2008 was to have a caucus on the Saturday after Super Tuesday - a move which, in hindsight, would've given Michigan all the influence it could ever ask for, and then some.<br /><br />It should also be noted that then-Michigan Democratic Chair Mark Brewer had long advocated for changes to the nominating process*. In 2007-2008 he was president of ASDC and, therefore, a Vice Chair of the DNC, which may have led him to think he could get away with it. (What's ironic is that a year later he was replaced as ASDC Chair by the head of... wait for it... the <b>New Hampshire</b> Democrats.)<br /><br />1992 was the last primary/caucus season in which Mark Brewer wasn't at the helm of the MDP; he served from 1995 to 2013 (with one interruption).<br /><br />*Not that he was wrong, of course, but silencing your state's voice in a nominating process is not the way to do that.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16814983603237679107noreply@blogger.com