Just How Blue Is Michigan?

State loss could be disastrous for Dems
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 6, 2008 11:14 AM CDT
Just How Blue Is Michigan?
Joe Biden and Barack Obama wave during a rally at C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek, MIch., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Michigan has gone blue in four out of the past five presidential elections, but the crucial state is anything but a lock for Barack Obama this year. The Wall Street Journal assesses a slew of factors—the state's highly charged racial politics, John McCain's good standing among GOP moderates and independents, Obama’s absence from the state primary, and his association with the disgraced mayor—and finds that the bellwether state's 17 electoral votes are very much in play.

"Michigan is a challenge for any Democratic candidate," says an Obama worker here. "Everyone thinks it's blue. But you have to work hard to make it blue." Obama holds a slim lead in recent polls and is pushing the McCain-is-Bush theme. But the Journal notes that Michigan is the original home of the so-called "Reagan Democrats," voters willing to jump to the GOP.
(More Barack Obama stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X