Michigan's state legislature votes today on whether to have an
open primary on January 15. Rudy leads in most polls there but
Romney has a family connection and strong organization and McCain
won there in 2000. My lay of the land is here. If the Democrats stick to their threat and strip
all the delegates from Michigan and other early primary interlopers
like Florida do independents hop into the GOP race, giving an
advantage to Rudy and McCain? Or does everyone figure the DNC is
bluffing? The RNC is threatening to take away only half the
delegates from these states. Clever Florida has struck back with
the likely shift to a winner take all system to boost the prize of
winning there. Do any savvy contenders leading in the potentially
penalized states come flat out and say "you'll get your votes back
if I win" ?