Michigan Primary Report
Top Three Democratic Contenders Debate in Las Vegas While Governor Mitt Romney Handily Sails Past Republican Competition
January 16, 2008
CWA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.-- Prior to a somewhat lively debate in Las Vegas between the top three Democratic candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, Republican presidential hopefuls battled for Michigan's 30 republican delegates.
After a hard fought campaign, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney sailed past republican competition coming up with his first convincing win of the primary/caucus season. Romney beat Senator John McCain by 9 percentage points. Though voter turnout was low, Republicans carried the night as Romney, who grew up in Michigan, won the hearts and minds of Republican voters with an economic message that focused on the state's sagging economy and dearth of jobs. Governor Romney's win catapulted him back into the race as a viable candidate as wins in Iowa by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and a win in New Hampshire by Senator John McCain made it clear that Romney's campaign needed to gain momentum.
With 100% of precincts reporting, the final vote count was:
| Mitt Romney |
39% |
23 Delegates |
| John McCain |
30% |
6 Delegates |
| Mike Huckabee |
16% |
1 Delegate |
| Ron Paul |
6% |
|
| Fred Thompson |
4% |
|
| Rudy Giuliani |
3% |
|
| Duncan Hunter |
0% |
|
Most democratic presidential candidates pulled their names from the Michigan ballot as the Democratic Party decided in December that state delegates will not count. This came about as a result of Michigan moving its primary to an earlier date. The DNC determined that the state's decision was in violation of party rules. No democratic delegates were awarded in Tuesday's primary. Only three democrats appeared on the ticket. Senator Hillary Clinton was the only top tier candidate on the ticket. Democratic results:
| Hillary Clinton |
55% |
| Dennis Kucinich |
4% |
| Christopher Dodd |
1% |
The tone of the Nevada debate began in a conciliatory fashion with Senators Obama and Clinton working to quell the ongoing dust up over comments about Dr. King and race. Candidates Clinton and Obama graciously detailed the fact that a consensus had been reach between them that the voters and the historic support by the democratic party of the ideals espoused by Dr. Martin Luther King were not only paramount in the current climate of division in America but that each of them was indeed a beneficiary of Dr. King's work and legacy. That on this day, in this debate, the Democratic party and its presidential candidates would unite with one goal in mind. That goal is to work for the good of the American people and for change. Finally if not most importantly, it was Senator John Edwards that publicly made his position perfectly clear about his support of unions in this country.
