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” ?