Why it’s in the best interest of Florida and Michigan’s political machine to not have a revote
Hillary Clinton’s “Political Machine” have gathered approximately ten investors to try to privately fund Michigan’s primary revote. Clintons Political Machine has raised nearly 30 million dollars to fund a new Michigan Primary. Hillary Clinton’s opponent Barack Obama has yet to declare his support for a revote.
Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee(DNC) has really forced both primary runners into an unfortunate predicament by telling both Florida and Michigan their primary votes would not count in deciding who would represent the democratic party if State of Michigan and State of Florida moved their primary dates.
The problem is both Clinton’s political machine and Obama’s Political Machine is correct in their assessment of the situation; they are both faced with evaluating the opportunities to collect votes from Michigan and Florida residents. Hillary could close the delegate count and popular vote count to help her argue her position as a viable candidate.
The High Road
Clinton’s “political machine’ argues all votes should be counted and delegates should be awarded based on the number of votes each candidate receives. This is a sound argument if both candidates are represented. In the end it was Barack Obama’s and John Edwards’s decision to remove their name from Michigan’s primary ballot. Hence, it is Barack’s fault for not having the insight to realize Michigan could be a crucial state on his campaign to the white house.
Obama’s “political machine” argues that they are being punished for following party rules. The DNC said Michigan and Florida’s votes would not be counted in the primary and Obama followed the rules established by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Barack Obama’s argument; by following the rules and wishes of the DNC he could possibly be penalized thus, increasing Hillary Clinton delegate votes and popular votes. Barack’s continued argument; circumvent and ignore the rules of the DNC and your political party and you will be rewarded? In addition Barack Obama offers a valid concern regarding whether or not Hillary will continue to ignore rules in the White House?
Michigan’s voice is being heard. Michigan held a primary and the outcome favored Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton won the primary by over 50% and over 40% of the Democratic vote was for “uncommitted” which was pushed by the Michigan congress and senate as a way to vote for Barack or to confuse the DNC for removing Michigan’s delegate count.
Why Michigan’s Political Machine moved Primary dates.
Michigan is a fairly large state with an economy revolving around the manufacturing industry for decades. Michigan currently has the highest unemployment in the country with an average of 7.1% as of January 08. Michigan’s foreclosure rate is 2.5 times the national average, Michigan’s Wayne county (Detroit) leads the country in foreclosures. The closing of auto plants and other related manufacturing jobs leaving the state and moving to China, Mexico and even southern states has fueled Michigan’s one state recession for almost 5 years. The state’s Political Machine decided to move Michigan’s primary date to gain national attention for Michigan’s struggling economy.
Why Michigan citizens should not have a primary revote.
First, any candidate that has enough financial backers willing to privately fund the revote is a cause for concern due to threats of “Prid Pro Quo” for the successful candidate. Michigan should not have a revote for the fact that Michigan wanted national attention and they are now receiving the national attention they wanted. Michigan will continue to receive the attention in the National Election whether it is from Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Neither democratic candidate has spent much time in the state and with the uncertainty of how Michigan voters will vote this will increase the focus of the democratic candidates and force them to address Michigan’s concerns to the state of the economy for Michigan and the United States. For Michigan or Florida to have a revote would remove any shroud of ambiguity allowing the Democratic Party to focus on the particular concerns of the voters. Thinking strategically, wait until the national election and make the candidates work for their states vote. In the end, with the primary struggles both states will play a vital role in the national election because of the uncertainty that was created by the Democratic National Committees Political Machine.
