Clinton Defends Michigan Ballot Stand

Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:44 AM EDT

politics, clinton, hillary-rodham-clinton, primary, scramble

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CONCORD — Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton said it would be foolish to take her name off Michigan's primary ballot and sacrifice her chances against the Republican nominee.

As the only top tier Democrat remaining on Michigan ballot, Clinton is all but guaranteed to win the state's primary. Michigan is tentatively slated to send 156 delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, but national party officials have threatened to take away those delegates if the state persists in holding its primary on Jan. 15.

"It's clear, this election they're having is not going to count for anything," Clinton said Thursday during an interview on New Hampshire Public Radio's call-in program, "The Exchange." "But I just personally did not want to set up a situation where the Republicans are going to be campaigning between now and whenever, and then after the nomination, we have to go in and repair the damage to be ready to win Michigan in 2008."

Speaking in the first primary state, Clinton said she understands concerns about her refusal. Rivals Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson and Joe Biden took their names off Michigan's Jan. 15 primary ballot this week, and Michigan's hope for nominating clout all but evaporated.

Clinton's comment reflects an optimism she will win her party's nomination to face the Republican nominee in November 2008. She said any snub to Michigan could hurt her — and all Democrats' — chances to defeat the Republicans there.

Clinton was prompted by a caller who said, "It strikes me that this is politics as usual, where politicians say one thing and do something else."

Clinton brushed aside the comment.

"I did not believe it was fair to just say, 'Goodbye Michigan' and not take into account the fact we're going to have to win Michigan if we're going to be in the White House in January 2009," she said.

The Democratic presidential candidates already had pledged not to campaign in Michigan because the state had broken Democratic National Committee rules by scheduling its primary ahead of Feb. 5. The rules ban states from holding their 2008 contests before Feb. 5, except Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

The candidates are allowed to visit Michigan to raise money and can send their spouses to campaign, but they can't run advertisements, hold rallies or do most of the other things that would help give them a leg up on their opponents.

Clinton said she wouldn't campaign there, but isn't about to hurt her own chances.

"If you look at the some of the states we have to win, the margins have been narrow. And it wasn't, in my view, meaningful, but I'm not going to say there's an absolute, total ignoring of the people in all these other states that won't come back to haunt us if we're not careful about it."

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{"commentId":1091370,"authorDomain":"g-lowell"}

g-lowell

There needs to be something to keep states from moving up their primaries. If they keep doing it then the primaries are going to end up a full year before the election. That is not good.

{"commentId":1091370,"threadId":"160798","contentId":"1018365","authorDomain":"g-lowell"}

#1 - Thu Oct 11, 2007 1:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":1363229,"authorDomain":"celestine"}

sabrina-226180

Granholm has no respect for the people of this state. Her thanks is a slap in the face to the people that elected her a Democrat.Typical of the government people can t wait to rid of. Why she would penalize us in this already disasterous state and allow this illegal change of date for the primary makes one curious of her motive. CONTRARY to what Hillary Clinton believes there are some people so disgusted with this they are taking their Democratic vote and voting Republican. At least we can vote against the we like most to keep out. Then there are people like my self that will be out there to be certain to cast my uncommitted vote. Shame too on this already disgraced bunch of "politicians" that did put their names on our ballot.I have and will be paying close attention. Oddly Clinton touts that she puts the people before her campaigning!!!!! Yeah Yeah blah blah

{"commentId":1363229,"threadId":"160798","contentId":"1018365","authorDomain":"celestine"}

#2 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:42 PM EST

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Clinton In, 5 Dems Out of Mich. Primary	Associated Press	Tue Oct 9	33
Michigan Democrats Want DNC Explanation	Associated Press	Fri Oct 12	3
Obama, Richardson and Edwards Pull Out of Michigan	Yahoo! News	Tue Oct 9	1
Strategic Vision Polls Michigan, Does it Really Matter?	Ratigan	Wed Oct 10	1

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Clinton Defends Michigan Ballot Stand

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