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MICHIGAN PRIMARY RESULTS
Republican Primary |
|
| Candidate | % |
| Romney | 39 |
| McCain | 30 |
| Huckabee | 16 |
| Paul | 6 |
| Thompson | 4 |
| Giuliani | 3 |
| Uncommitted | 2 |
89% Reporting |
|
| - | |
Democratic Primary |
|
| Clinton | 56 |
| Uncommitted | 39 |
89% Reporting |
|
Michigan Runup
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McCain, Romney in tight race as Michigan votes - Reuters | 1/15/08
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In Michigan primary, anything can happen - Boston Globe | 1/15/08
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Michigan Picks Its Man for the Job - Time | 1/15/08
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Hard to say how many will go to polls in Michigan - Detroit Free Press | 1/14/08
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Michigan Face Off - Human Events | 1/15/08
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Michigan at Center Stage in G.O.P. Race - NYT | 1/15/08
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20 percent of voters expected to cast ballots in primary- Michigan Daily | 1/14/08
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McCain, Romney Take Different Routes to Win Over Michigan Voters - W. Post | 1/15/08
McCain Hopes for Big Independent, Democratic Turnout in Republican Michigan Primary
- McCain Faces Payback From Old GOP Foes
- Washington Post | 1/14/08 - How John McCain could win the presidency - Politico | 1/14/08
- McCain in Michigan: 'We are Judeo-Christian' nation - Baltimore Sun | 1/14/08
- McCain faces little incoming fire - Politico | 1/15/08
- Independents Help McCain in Michigan - MyWay, AP | 1/14/08
- Santorum: McCain Presidency Very Dangerous - Newsmax | 1/14/08
Romney Struggles to Get Positive Coverage From the Media
- Mitt's Memory Lapse - W. Post | 1/14/08
- Mr. Romney's Sales Pitch - W. Post | 1/15/08
- Will Michigan Save Mitt Romney? - CBS | 1/15/08
- Romney singing new tune, sweeter to Detroit's ears - Boston Globe | 1/15/08
- Mitt Romney wrestles with the electability issue - AJC.com | 1/14/08
Hillary Wants Out of Race Argument as She Receives "Luke Warm" Response at Event Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. - Plus, Hillary's Iraq "Fairy Tale"
- Clinton Tries To Withdraw From Race War - American Spectator | 1/14/08
- Clinton Receives Luke Warm Response After MLK Event - ABC | 1/14/08
- Hillary and the race card - Boston Globe | 1/15/08
- Clinton Defends Iraq Votes in Increasingly Heated Democratic Race - Fox News | 1/14/08
- Hillary’s Iraq Story Is Kind of Fairy Tale, Too - NY Observer | 1/14/08
- Clinton Praises Martin Luther King - CBS | 1/14/08
- Bill Clinton courts Nevada ahead of caucuses - Seattle PI | 1/15/08
Obama Declares a Truce
- Obama, putting out the fire - Politico | 1/14/08
- In Obama’s Pursuit of Latinos, Race Plays Role - NYT | 1/15/08
- Obama Declares Truce - Fox News | 1/14/08
- Cheering Obama, With Doubts - National Journal| 1/14/08
- Obama goes gloves off, head-on - LV Sun | 1/15/08
Thompson Pointing to His Conservative History and Receives Alfonse D'Amato Endorsement
- Alfonse D'Amato and Co. rooting for Fred Thompson - Newsday | 1/14/08
- Fred emphasizes conservative credentials in new SC spot - Politico | 1/14/08
Huckabee Focusses Heavily on Jobs, Less on God
- Huckabee, Texas Ranger - Baltimore Sun | 1/14/08
- With A Lack of Money, Huckabee Uses Informal Means to Build Support - CBS | 1/14/08
- Huckabee Visits Crisis Pregnancy Center - Yahoo | 1/14/08
- Huckabee trades God for jobs in Michigan - Guardian | 1/14/08
- The stage was set for Huckabee - Politico | 1/14/08
- Huckabee appeals to working class - Detroit Free Press | 1/14/08
- Huckabee Trumpets Blue Collar Approach - MSNBC | 1/14/08
- Huckabee Talks Jobs and Taxes - CBS News | 1/14/08
Giuliani Faces Falling Florida Polls as He Closely Follows Michigan and Talks Economic Security - Also, Receives Jon Voight Endorsement
- Giuliani slips in Florida polls - floridatoday.com | 1/14/08
- New polls question Giuliani Florida strategy - Reuters | 1/14/08
- Actor Jon Voight backs Giuliani - Yahoo | 1/14/08
- Rudy eyes campaign resurrection in Florida - Newsday | 1/14/08
- Giuliani's immigration tone varies - Miami Heral | 1/15/08
- Giuliani closely watching Michigan results - Fox News | 1/15/08
- Giuliani disses Green Bay Packers fan - Fox News | 1/14/08
- Giuliani broadens message to push 'economic security' - Palm Beach Post | 1/15/08
The Ref's Calls
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On Friday Romney said of Michigan, "If we can’t win here, we can’t win anywhere." It seems that Romney listened to the pundits. As I wrote in the last Ref's Call, Romney probably does not need to win Michigan to remain a serious contender for the Republican nomination.
Michigan, like Iowa and New Hampshire, allows Independents to vote. Although in Michigan Democrats are also allowed to vote. Michigan sets up perfectly for McCain, a more middle of the road candidate on the issues.
Unless Romney has made some tortured calculation to the effect that he must make his supporters realize that this is the last stand to properly motivate them, it seems that he simply misunderstands where he is in the race.
Romney's real competition is Fred Thompson. If he can outlast Fred Thompson in this race he stands to win quite a few states where only Republicans can vote. Perhaps Romney knows this and, as mentioned before, is simply trying to convey the notion that this is an important election.
Regardless of the reason, when pundits are foaming at the mouth for your scalp it is never a good idea to give them words to hang you with. The Ref - Jan. 11, 2008 Â
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MEDIA NEEDS REALITY CHECK: Romney Not Out if he Loses Michigan
The pundits declared Iowa and New Hampshire must win states for Romney. He won neither state yet he is the delegate leader.Â
Delegate leader? Yes, delegate leader. In a race for delegates, delegates are what matter, not the number of wins a candidate amasses. One would think many of the pundits do not know this basic fact.Â
Romney has made it clear that he will not drop out of the race. He will run in all fifty states. He does not need the media to prop him up to raise money because he already has more money than any other candidate has or will have.
Why does the media continue to predict Romney's demise? Perhaps the fact that the conservative establishment supports him represents the reason.
Regardless of the reason the predictions will be premature until February 5th at the earliest no matter what happens in Michigan. Bottom line, if Romney leads in delegates or is somewhere near the top after February 5th he is very much in the game.
Pundits that say candidates are finished after one, two, or even five states this year fail to account for the open nature of the Republican race. News channels' need to fill a great deal of time does not justify the incompetent political analysis we have seen lately. We have seen far too much of it this year. The Ref - Jan. 9, 2008
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