When the general election is held, it seems that we will not do well in FL and MI because

[AlinPA]

of the way primaries were handled there. The way I see it, that's big trouble.

[Crazy Dave]

1. Too many eyes on Florida and Ohio after '00 & '04

Look for massive, republican election fraud in New York or California for this general election. Just a hunch.

[cgrindley]

2. What do you mean?

I don't think that primary voting patterns necessary predict general election patterns. There's nothing to say that a registered repuke won't vote Dem in the election and the opposite must sometimes be true likewise.

[AlinPA]

6. I'm concerned about backlash by Democrats that the party may have made them

feel that their opinion in the primary does not matter.

[vanboggie]

3. Michigander here

Still waiting to vote for John Edwards.

Have no fear. We Dems are here and mad as hell about being disenfranchised in the Primary. I'm casting a vote for JRE if I have to write him in (which probably won't count in MI)

I'm still very, very disappointed and angry about our Dem Governor and Sen. Stabenow who were rolling in the glory of a Hillary "win". I don't see the victory in a candidate who chose to be the only viable candidate with her name on the ballot instead of taking the high road.

[Birthmark]

4. As a Floridian...

...I couldn't agree more.

[knitter4democracy]

5. It's turned my area of Michigan red, from what I'm hearing.

People are mad as hell about the economy. Where's Edwards? If he really cared, he would be here. We have the worst economy in the country, he's running as the common person's candidate, and he's nowhere to be found.

They sure as hell aren't getting a dime from me until they fix this.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

7. Why would he campaign there if there were no delegates to be had, and he's fighting for his life

trying to stay alive in the campaign?

[knitter4democracy]

12. Maybe so we don't lose the GE?

I don't know about you, but I think risking Florida and Michigan (two barely blue states with lots of electoral votes) is a pretty damn stupid idea.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

15. But you're putting this all on Edwards, presumably because he has the anti-corporate message.

What about the fact that Clinton (aside from leaving her name on the ballot, yay!) and Obama didn't campaign either?

Look, I see the stripping of delegates as a potential problem for turnout in the General Election too, although maybe not such a big deal since the number of primary voters is so small compared to the G.E., but the resonsibility lies with the Democratic Party (national), the Michigan Democratic Party, or both, not Edwards.

Dude is doing everything he can to survive. He has to be NOMINATED in order to lose Michigan in the general election, and as it is, it looks like he won't achieve that either. Having campaigned in Michigan wouldn't have helped him achieve the nomination.

First things first.

[knitter4democracy]

17. I mentioned him as someone I was particularly disappointed in.

I didn't put it all on him. I'm not that stupid.

Still, it makes sense that Obama and Clinton, who aren't running on the economy and the middle class and poor, wouldn't come here. I can understand why Edwards never got here before the primary, but now that it's over, he could come up on Sunday or Monday before the next primary mess gets going to help heal up the wounds here. It would get him big publicity and show that he's serious about his issues.

[Postman]

8. He wasn't in MI because there were no delegates to be won in MI

Did you notice NO democrats went to Michigan? That's not because they don't care about them, it's because it's how the primaries were set up....

[knitter4democracy]

11. I have a feeling I know more about the situation than you do.

Not to be snarky, but do you think those of us in the grassroots in Michigan didn't realize that? The DLC power-play, then taken advantage of by state republicans, screwed us all and probably made the state swing red.

Now that the Michigan primary's over, it wouldn't violate his agreement not to campaign here for the primary. He could come up here for a day and do something, anything to convince Michigan we're not entirely left alone to die.

[vanboggie]

16. Why isn't Obama here? Why isn't Hillary here?

I don't understand why you're putting this all on Edwards. He's quite busy now gaining some traction in this race.

All three could find their way to Michigan, but won't do so till it matters. Granholm and the MI Dem party blew it by moving the date up. I hate to believe the rumor about Granholm hoping for a spot in a Clinton admin, but the Hillary banners plastered all over jennifergranholm.com don't sit right with me considering Hillary put delegates above principle.

Edwards cares about MI residents just as much as other Americans, and that's a helluva lot more than I can say for the other two in the running. JMHO.

[knitter4democracy]

18. Clinton and Obama aren't running on the economy.

Maybe now they are after Edwards has gotten traction with it, but it's a recent move. Why isn't the guy going on and on about how the Carolinas are in real trouble (and yet are doing a hell of a lot better than we are up here) and how everywhere else in the country is in trouble isn't up here? He could do a fundraiser or two, and if he paired that with a local interview or two, it would get him massive free advertising and help heal up some wounds. That's all I'm saying. One day, tops.

I'm leaning towards Edwards, don't get me wrong. It just seems a slap in Michigan's face that the state that's been in a recession for years and is dying doesn't get any attention from the guy running on the crappy economy.

[Johonny]

9. just wondering

What the voter turn out is for primaries vs general elections. My gut tells me the primary turn out is much smaller than the GE in all states.

[AlinPA]

10. I think that's true. This year, Democrats are more eager to have their say in the

primaries and that's why I think MI and FL Democrats may feel left out and may have a minor backlash in November. Hopefully, when that time comes the thought of a McCain, Romney or Guliani following Bush** might put these primaries in the past.

[knitter4democracy]

13. That's not what I'm hearing. Michigan likes McCain.

*sigh* I know many who don't normally go for Republicans who would vote for him, given the chance. Michiganders are pissed about what happened, and there's going to be backlash, if just by staying home again.

[porphyrian]

14. I'm glad my vote will do nothing to determine my representative candidate.

It gives me warm fuzzies to belong to a group that values my position so.