Michigan's presidential primary set for Jan. 15
— -- Michigan leaped to the head of the presidential primary lineup Thursday, setting a Jan. 15 election that could become a key battleground for the Republican and Democratic nominations.
But Michigan's move — supported by large majorities in the state's House and Senate and backed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm — will almost certainly be countered by other states, especially Iowa and New Hampshire, which are intent on preserving their traditional primacy in the presidential selection process.
Assuming Granholm approves the measure as expected — she has promised to sign it as soon as it reaches her desk — Michigan would have the first primary and third nominating contest, behind caucuses for Wyoming Republicans on Jan. 5 and for both parties Jan. 14 in Iowa.
Michigan lawmakers supporting the move said it was crucial that Michigan's concerns be placed on the national agenda and before the presidential candidates as soon as possible.
"When they're making promises ... we want to make sure they're not just making promises to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina," said state Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer, a Democrat.
State Elections Director Chris Thomas predicted that a Jan. 15 primary would attract more voters than previous presidential primaries. The previous record came in 1972, when Alabama Gov. George Wallace bested George McGovern and Hubert Humphrey on the Democratic side of a contest that drew 1.9 million voters.
But Thomas said wide-open races on both sides — accompanied by massive media and advertising campaigns — could result in a turnout approaching 3 million in January.
Despite the support of most of the state's top Democratic leadership — Granholm, U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, and U.S. Reps. John Dingell, John Conyers and Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, among others — state party Chairman Mark Brewer issued a statement after Thursday's vote saying: "The Michigan Democratic Party has made no decision as to whether to participate in a primary."
Related Stories
ABC News Live