2008 Michigan Democratic presidential primary

none June 2025 September 2023 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries 2008 Michigan Democratic presidential primary Michigan presidential no 2004 Michigan Democratic presidential caucuses 2004 2012 United States presidential election in Michigan#Democratic primary 2012 2008 01 15 File:Hillary_Rodham_Clinton-cropped.jpg 150x150px Hillary Clinton D4AA00 New York 328,309 54.61% 34.5 File:Barack Obama Senate portrait crop.jpg Barack Obama 80008A Illinois – – 29.5 NOTA Option Logo 3x4.svg Uncommitted 238,168 39.61% – 0 000000 320px Primary results by county 320px Primary results by congressional district 1 320px Clinton: #fce0b4 40–50% #f1c98b 50–60% #e6b263 60–70% #d99a39 70–80% Uncommitted: #000000 NH NV The 2008 Michigan Democratic presidential primary took place January 15, 2008. Originally, the state had 156 delegatesDecember 1, 2007 Democrats punish Michigan for early primary; Leaders vote to strip state of all delegates for violating party rules Decision '08 NBC News Associated Press https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22054151 live January 15, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20150307084519/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22054151/ March 7, 2015 up for grabs that were to be awarded in the following way: 83 delegates were to be awarded based on the winner in each of Michigan's 15 congressional districts while an additional 45 delegates were to be awarded to the statewide winner. Twenty-eight unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, were initially able to cast their votes at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. However, the Democratic National Committee determined that the date of the Michigan Democratic Primary violated the party rules and ultimately decided to sanction the state, stripping all 156 delegates and refusing to seat them at the convention. Despite this, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the primary could go ahead as scheduled.Michigan Supreme Court Lets Presidential Primary Go Forward http://www.wsbt.com/news/election/2008/11713311.html WSBT-TV Associated Press November 27, 2007 January 15, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080107190717/http://www.wsbt.com/news/election/2008/11713311.html January 7, 2008 dead The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee later met on May 31, 2008, and agreed to seat all of Michigan's delegates with each delegate receiving half of a vote.Ohlemacher Stephen Democrats Strip Michigan of Delegates http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/ap-democrats-strip-michigan-of-delegates/130992.htm WKRN-TV Associated Press December 2, 2007 January 14, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20071203101821/http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/ap-democrats-strip-michigan-of-delegates/130992.htm December 3, 2007 dead As a result of this compromise, Michigan had 78 votes at the convention. On August 24, the delegates had full voting rights restored.Sinderbrand Rebecca August 24, 2008 Full voting rights restored to Florida and Michigan CNN http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/24/full-voting-rights-restored-to-florida-and-michigan/ dead August 24, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20200804205539/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/24/full-voting-rights-restored-to-florida-and-michigan/ August 4, 2020 Pre-primary events and polling The Michigan Legislature passed a bill to move the date of the state's presidential primaries to January 15 in an effort to increase the state's influence in the presidential candidate nominating process. They argued that the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary unfairly dominated the selection process.Alexander Mooney Steinhauser Paul Hoye Matt Democrats withdraw from Michigan 'beauty contest' http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/09/michigan.primary/index.html CNN October 9, 2007 January 16, 2008 Just as in Florida, the move-up bill originated in a Republican-controlled State Senate and passed by a 21–17 straight party-line vote with every Democrat casting a "no" vote.Barrett Wayne Wayne Barrett April 1, 2008 Could the Republicans Pick the Democratic Nominee? — The Untold Story of How the GOP Rigged Florida and Michigan The Huffington Post https://www.commondreams.org/views/2008/04/01/could-republicans-pick-democratic-nominee-untold-story-how-gop-rigged-florida-and live June 3, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080607172512/http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/01/8025/ June 7, 2008 Common Dreams However, Democratic National Committeewoman Debbie Dingell was a leader in moving Michigan's primary date to January 15. She later explained that she believed Michigan's rebellion against the DNC rules would spark a national campaign to change the primary process so that Iowa and New Hampshire would not always be first. She also claimed that if Michigan had conformed to DNC rules and held its primary in February, the Democratic candidates would have virtually skipped Michigan anyway in favor of other crucial states.Christoff Chris January 16, 2008 Angry voters could mean trouble for Dems Detroit Free Press http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080116/NEWS15/801160342 dead January 16, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080222234328/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080116%2FNEWS15%2F801160342 February 22, 2008 Federal Democratic Party rules prohibit any state, except for Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina from holding its primary before February 5, or Super Tuesday. On December 1, 2007, the Democratic National Committee stripped Michigan and Florida of all of their delegates to the Democratic National Convention. The decision of the DNC diminished the significance of the Michigan Democratic Primary. On October 9, 2007, following Michigan's breach of DNC rules, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, and John Edwards withdrew from the Michigan Democratic Primary ballot.Four Candidates Withdraw from Michigan Primary Ballot Michigan Department of State October 9, 2007 http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127--177580--,00.html January 10, 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080116220117/http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0%2C1607%2C7-127--177580--%2C00.html January 16, 2008 Dennis Kucinich unsuccessfully sought to remove his name from the ballot. Hillary Clinton and Christopher Dodd decided to remain on the ballot. Barks Hoffman Kathy Clinton In, 5 Dems Out of Mich. Primary https://www.theguardian.com/worldlatest/story/0,,-6984389,00.html Guardian Unlimited Associated Press October 10, 2007 January 14, 2008 London October 2010 H3llBot Although Clinton said she would honor a pledge that she and the other Democratic candidates had earlier made to refrain from campaigning or participating in Michigan, Clinton and Dodd drew sharp criticism from Biden, who stated that the two candidates had "chosen to hedge their bets" and had "abandoned Democrats in Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina" by staying on the ballot.Biden Campaign Slams Clinton, Dodd for Abandoning Campaign Pledge Biden for President, Inc. October 9, 2007 http://www.joebiden.com/newscenter/pressreleases?id=0189 January 14, 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080115200757/http://www.joebiden.com/newscenter/pressreleases?id=0189 January 15, 2008 On December 10, 2007, the Michigan Democratic Party issued a press release stating that the primary would be held on January 15, 2008, and that the Democratic ballot would contain only six choices: Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Uncommitted, and Write-in.MDP Releases Voter Guide To Help Voters Understand Presidential Primary Michigan Democratic Party December 10, 2007 http://www.michigandems.com/121007prs.html January 10, 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080115115003/http://www.michigandems.com/121007prs.html January 15, 2008 The press release also urged supporters of Biden, Edwards, Obama and Richardson to vote "uncommitted" instead of writing in their preferred candidates' names. In order for any such write-in votes to be counted, those candidates would have needed to file additional paperwork by January 4, 2008. None did so. Barks Hoffman Kathy No Democratic candidates file as write-in candidates https://www.record-eagle.com/news/state_news/no-democrats-file-as-write-in-candidates/article_ae916d59-d205-5c24-a88f-7370c93b8cbb.html Traverse City Record-Eagle Associated Press January 5, 2008 December 11, 2020 https://archive.today/20201212020812/https://www.record-eagle.com/news/state_news/no-democrats-file-as-write-in-candidates/article_ae916d59-d205-5c24-a88f-7370c93b8cbb.html December 12, 2020 live Chris Dodd dropped out of the race after he placed seventh in the Iowa Democratic Caucus. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/01/dodd_withdraws.html Dodd withdraws from Democratic field The Boston Globe Rhee Foon January 3, 2008 January 14, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20100502032951/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/01/dodd_withdraws.html May 2, 2010 dead As of January 3, 2008, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel were the only Democratic candidates who planned to campaign in the state. According to a Kucinich volunteer, the campaign changed its mind about campaigning in Michigan so that it could use the lack of activity to fill a vacuum in Kucinich's support. Gravel had already made a number of campaign stops in Michigan before January 3.Gorchow Zachary Kucinich says he'll come to Michigan after all http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/NEWS06/801030383/1008 Detroit Free Press January 3, 2008 January 14, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20131109015217/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080103%2FNEWS06%2F801030383%2F1008 November 9, 2013 dead Polling 600px|right|Pre-primary opinion polling statistics throughout the campaign season. Statewide opinion polling for the January 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries#Michigan The American Research Group conducted a survey, asking 600 likely Democratic primary voters in Michigan from January 12 to January 14, 2008. The results were as follows: Michigan Democratic Presidential Preference http://americanresearchgroup.com/pres08/midem8-706.html American Research Group American Research Group 2008-01-17 January 16, 2008 Candidate Democratic Preference % Hillary Clinton56% Uncommitted 31% Undecided 9% Dennis Kucinich 3% Mike Gravel 1% Hillary Clinton easily beat the "uncommitted" votes during pre-primary polls. However, the Detroit Free Press questioned whether the results of the Michigan Democratic Primary demonstrated anything. None of the major candidates in the Democratic Party campaigned at all in Michigan, and all had pledged not to participate in the primary. The Detroit Free Press was also questioning whether Clinton's polling results would have held up during the actual primary. J. Ann Selzer of Selzer & Company, director of The Detroit Free Press-Local 4 Michigan Poll, said, "In my mind, if [Clinton] does not get a majority, then more voters were against her than with her." According to the poll, if the other major contenders were to appear in the ballot, Clinton would receive 46% of the vote, Obama would receive 23%, and Edwards would get 13% while 42% of the uncommitted vote would go to Obama.Ben Schmitt Gray Kathleen Among Democrats, Clinton leads over 'uncommitted' http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/NEWS15/80112069/1215 Detroit Free Press January 12, 2008 January 18, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080222222728/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080112%2FNEWS15%2F80112069%2F1215 February 22, 2008 dead Results Michigan Primary Election Results - Election Guide 2008 - Results - The New York Times https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/elections/2008/primaries/results/states/MI.html 2024-02-28 archive.nytimes.com 2008 Michigan Democratic presidential primary results PartyCandidateVotesPercentageStatewide delegates National delegates Democratic Hillary Clinton 328,309 54.61% 0 34.5 Democratic Barack Obama 0 0.00% 0 29.5 Democratic Uncommitted 238,168 39.61% 0 0 Democratic Dennis Kucinich 21,715 3.61% 0 0 Democratic Write-ins 6,821 1.13% 0 0 Democratic Christopher Dodd 3,845 0.64% 0 0 Democratic Mike Gravel 2,361 0.39% 0 0 Totals 601,219 100.00% 0 64 Voter turnout % — Exit polls A question in the Michigan exit poll conducted by the news media asked the respondents how they would have voted if the names of Barack Obama, John Edwards and Bill Richardson were added to the ballot. The results obtained for that question are tabulated below. The first column of the table shows that according to the exit poll, Clinton, Obama, Edwards and Richardson would have received 46%, 35%, 12% and 1% respectively with such an expanded ballot. Except for the "% Total" column, the numbers in this table should be read horizontally. For example, the row for Barack Obama tells us that of the 35% he polled in the exit poll, 18% would have come from Clinton voters, 1% from Gravel voters, 2% from Kucinich voters and 79% from uncommitted voters. Michigan Democratic Primary Exit Pollhttps://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21225987 Michigan Exit Poll - Democrats 2008-05-11 2008-05-11 MSNBC and other news outlets Question: If these had been the candidates on the ballot today, for whom would you have voted in the Democratic presidential primary?Candidate% TotalClintonDoddGravelKucinichUncommitted Hillary Rodham Clinton 46 97 - 0 0 3 John Edwards 12 30 2 - 11 57 Dennis Kucinich 2 - - - - - Barack Obama 35 18 0 1 2 79 Bill Richardson 1 - - - - - Post-primary delegate allocation Proposed revote Shortly after the February 5, 2008 Super Tuesday contests, the media and some politicians, including U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa),Deeth John February 15, 2008 Harkin Calls For Florida, Michigan Revote The Iowa Independent http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1950 dead April 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20120908142210/http://iowaindependent.com/1944/harkin-calls-for-florida-michigan-revote September 8, 2012 suggested a revote in Florida and Michigan. On March 7, Newsweek reported: "A plan to raise soft money to pay for a second Florida Democratic Primary—this one by mail—seems close to approval, according to Sen. Bill Nelson."Walls Seth Colter March 7, 2008 Deja Vu Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/deal-close-2nd-fla-primary-84339 live March 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080531135109/http://www.newsweek.com/id/119901 May 31, 2008 A grassroots movement to raise this money began in early February with revote08.com, with which a group of South Floridians hoped to raise the money for all mail-in revotes in Michigan and Florida. Michigan Democratic Party officials intended to restrict any revote to Democrats, and in particular to prevent those who had already voted in the Michigan Republican Primary from participating. However, since Michigan does not have party registration, it was not clear how this could have been accomplished.Dem panel to pitch mail-in vote The Detroit News http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080311/POLITICS01/803110330/1409/METRO March 13, 2008 March 11, 2008December 2020 A date of June 3 had been suggested for the revote.http://www.newsweek.com/id/107872 June 3 is target for Mich. do-over vote Brendan Farrington Associated Press Newsweek March 14, 2008 March 14, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080310010230/http://www.newsweek.com/id/107872 March 10, 2008 dead However, on April 4, 2008, the Michigan Democratic Party decided it was not practical to stage a new party primary or caucus.http://cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002697887 New Michigan Primary is Off the Table CQ Politics Marie Horrigan April 4, 2008 April 7, 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080408133301/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002697887 April 8, 2008 Clinton's position On September 1, 2007, Hillary Clinton signed a pledge agreeing not to "campaign or participate" in Michigan.http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=3134 Clinton Campaign Statement on the Four State Pledge Patti Solis Doyle September 1, 2007 May 16, 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080515040116/http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=3134 May 15, 2008 On January 25, 2008, Clinton advocated seating Michigan and Florida's delegates at the Democratic National ConventionWulfhorst Ellen January 25, 2008 Clinton roils vote dispute in presidential race Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2533575920080126 live April 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080518212823/https://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2533575920080126 May 18, 2008http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080125/NEWS15/80125025/1004/NEWS02 Clinton pledges to seat Mich. delegates despite primary flap Kathleen Gray Detroit Free Press January 25, 2008 April 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080205074753/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080125%2FNEWS15%2F80125025%2F1004%2FNEWS02 February 5, 2008 dead despite the DNC ban, stating: I believe our nominee will need the enthusiastic support of Democrats in these states to win the general election, and so I will ask my Democratic convention delegates to support seating the delegations from Florida and Michigan.http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/01/25/america/Clinton-Florida-Delegates.php Clinton wants Florida, Michigan delegates to Democratic convention reinstated Associated Press International Herald Tribune January 25, 2008 April 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080504131719/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/01/25/america/Clinton-Florida-Delegates.php May 4, 2008 dead In response, David Plouffe of the Obama campaign released the following statement: When Senator Clinton was campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire, she made it clear that states like Michigan and Florida that wouldn't produce any delegates, "don't count for anything." Now that Senator Clinton's worried about losing the first Southern primary, she's using Florida and Michigan for her own political gain by trying to assign meaning to a contest that awards zero delegates and where no campaigning has occurred.http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/01/clinton_obama_spar_over_florida_delegates.php Clinton, Obama Spar Over Florida Delegates Marc Ambinder The Atlantic January 25, 2008 April 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080330003947/http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/01/clinton_obama_spar_over_florida_delegates.php March 30, 2008 dead On March 13, 2008, NPR interviewed Clinton, reporting: Hillary Clinton says the results [in Michigan] should count, even if Barack Obama's name did not appear on the ballot. "That was his choice...There was no rule or requirement that he take his name off the ballot. His supporters ran a very aggressive campaign to try to get people to vote uncommitted."...Clinton [says] that the Michigan and Florida pledged delegates should count because both are seen as key battleground states in the general election. But if the national party does not agree, she says, the states should re-do the primaries.Hillary Clinton, Steve Inskeep March 13, 2008 Clinton Says Michigan and Florida Should Count https://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&id=88165077 radio interview National Public Radio June 2, 2008 01:34 We all had a choice as to whether or not to participate in, what was going to be a primary, and most people took their names off the ballot, but I didn't. When pressed by NPR, Clinton said, "We all had a choice as to whether or not to participate in what was going to be a primary, and most people took their name off the ballot but I didn't." Critics have labeled Clinton's actions as dishonest, and charged her with trying to retroactively change the rules for her own benefit.http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2008/01/hillary_clinton_trying_to_steal_nomination/ Hillary Clinton Trying to Steal Nomination? January 27, 2008 January 29, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080129110204/http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2008/01/hillary_clinton_trying_to_steal_nomination/ dead https://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2008/01/25/clinton-rewrite-the-rules-for-me/ Clinton: Rewrite the Rules for Me October 27, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20080503131033/http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2008/01/25/clinton-rewrite-the-rules-for-me/ 2008-05-03 deadAny Means Necessary DNC decision In late May, attention focused on the upcoming May 31, 2008, meeting of the Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The RBC would choose whether to assign seats to Florida and Michigan delegates for the Democratic National Convention. (The convention itself could change the seating.) During the period before the RBC meeting, 22 uncommitted delegates pledged their support to Obama should they be seated at the convention.https://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/05/michigan-36-obama-gets-18.html May 27, 2008 The Michigan 36 - Obama gets 22 Democratic Convention Watch June 4, 2008 On May 31, 2008, the RBC voted 19-8 to seat all of Michigan's delegates with each receiving half a vote. The resolution allocated 69 pledged delegates for Hillary Clinton and 59 pledged delegates for Barack Obama, resulting in these pledged delegate votes:https://www.politico.com/story/2008/05/dnc-panel-agrees-to-seat-mich-fla-010732 DNC panel agrees to seat Mich., Fla. June 4, 2008 Amie Parnes Zenilman Avi May 31, 2008 Politico Clinton: 34.5 Obama: 29.5 The decision was a modification of the Michigan Leadership Plan, a proposal by the Michigan Democratic Partyhttp://thepage.time.com/letter-from-michigan-dems-to-state-party-on-seating-delegates/ (Letter from Michigan Democrats to State Party on Seating Delegates) June 2, 2008 Levin Carl Carl Levin Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick Ron Gettelfinger Ron Gettelfinger Deborah Dingell Deborah Dingell 2008-04-29 As a result, we recommend that the Michigan Democratic Party request the DNC to seat Michigan’s delegates, and that the pledged delegates be apportioned 69 to Senator Clinton and 59 to Senator Obama. That approach splits the difference between the 73/55 position of the Clinton campaign and the 64/64 position of the Obama campaign, based on our belief that both sides have fair arguments about the Michigan primary. TimeJuly 2021 medicmedic submitted as a compromise between the positions of the Clinton Campaign (allocating delegates based on the January 15 primary, with 73 pledged delegates for Clinton, and 55 pledged delegates as uncommittedhttp://michigandems.com/020808prs.html Michigan Democratic Party releases 2008 National Convention pledged delegate, alternate, and committee allocation June 2, 2008 February 8, 2008 Michigan Democratic Party Overall, Clinton will have 73 pledged delegates, 16 pledged alternates, and 10 committee members, and there will be 55 uncommitted delegates, 5 uncommitted alternates, and 8 uncommitted committee members. https://web.archive.org/web/20080529012727/http://www.michigandems.com/020808prs.html May 29, 2008 dead) and the Obama Campaign (allocating the delegates evenly between Clinton and Obama,http://2008central.net/2008/04/04/obama-press-release-campaign-manager-on-michigan-delegates-its-time-to-move-forward-a-5050-split-would-be-fair/ (Obama Campaign Press Release from April 4, 2008) June 2, 2008 Plouffe David David Plouffe April 4, 2008 Obama for America A 50/50 split of the delegates is an eminently fair solution, especially since originally Senator Clinton herself said the Michigan primary wouldn’t ‘count for anything.’ dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080408191941/http://2008central.net/2008/04/04/obama-press-release-campaign-manager-on-michigan-delegates-its-time-to-move-forward-a-5050-split-would-be-fair/ April 8, 2008 which with a full delegation would result in 64 pledged delegates for Clinton and 64 pledged delegates for Obama). Endorsements Despite the debacle surrounding the Michigan Democratic Primary, Hillary Clinton picked up two big endorsements in the state from Governor Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. See also 2008 Michigan Republican presidential primary 2008 Florida Democratic presidential primary 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries References 2 External links Michigan Democratic Party State Official Website Michigan United States president Democratic 2008