A group of top Michigan Democrats, including both U.S. Senators and four out of six House members, have written a joint letter to Dem Governor Jennifer Granholm, state Democratic chairman Mark Brewer and state Republican chairman Saul Anuzis, making the case for their effort to have Michigan's primary held early, on January 15.

"We support efforts to make the overall Presidential nominating process more reflective of the diversity of this country, and strongly believe that manufacturing issues need to be part of the Presidential candidate dialogue," the letter says — a clear contrast with Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, the thinly populated states that are currently allowed to go in January. "Embracing an early, inclusive contest would ensure that those issues are raised and our Michigan viewpoints are heard. An early, inclusive primary election is the best way to ensure the issues of trade, health care, and manufacturing are in the national limelight."

The letter has been released ahead of tomorrow's meeting of the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee, which is expected to vote for strong sanctions against Florida's planned January 29 primary. And if Florida is to be punished for a January 29 primary — potentially through having a significant number of delegates taken away from their allotment — then you can bet that stiff penalties are planned if Michigan goes ahead with January 15.

The Republican-controlled Michigan state Senate has already passed a bill to schedule the primary on the early date, and the bill now awaits approval by the Democratically-controlled House, plus Granholm's signature. Be on the lookout for national Democrats to lean on Granholm to veto the bill if it reaches her desk.

Read the full letter after the jump.

August 24, 2007

The Honorable Jennifer Granholm
Governor
State of Michigan

Chairman Mark Brewer
Michigan Democratic Party

Chairman Saul Anuzis
Michigan Republican Party

Dear Governor Granholm, Chairman Brewer and Chairman Anuzis:

We are writing to indicate our preference for a presidential delegate selection process that embraces an inclusive and early primary in Michigan.

There has been much discussion in recent weeks and days as to what the best approach would be for Michigan to take for this Presidential cycle. We believe that it is vital that all Michigan citizens be provided with an opportunity to participate and have their voices heard in this crucial election cycle. A primary election provides the most inclusive process and highest voter participation.

In the 2004 Democratic caucus, only 164,000 people participated in a state of over 10 million people. By contrast, in the 2002 and 2006 Democratic and Republican primaries, 1.6 million voters and 1.1 million voters participated, respectively. It is critical that millions of people have the opportunity to participate in a process that is reliable and inclusive.

We support efforts to make the overall Presidential nominating process more reflective of the diversity of this country, and strongly believe that manufacturing issues need to be part of the Presidential candidate dialogue. Embracing an early, inclusive contest would ensure that those issues are raised and our Michigan viewpoints are heard. An early, inclusive primary election is the best way to ensure the issues of trade, health care, and manufacturing are in the national limelight.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt observed that “the constant free flow of communication among us—enabling the free interchange of ideas—forms the very bloodstream of our nation. It keeps the mind and body of our democracy eternally vital, eternally young.” We, in Michigan, have a responsibility to provide a forum where the largest number of people possible are participating in this process, in what, quite frankly will be one of the most important elections of many people’s lifetime. Maximum participation should be the first and foremost goal with the goal of keeping this state’s future healthy and vital.

Sincerely,

Carl Levin, United States Senator; Andy Dillon, Speaker, Michigan House of Representatives; Debbie Stabenow, United State Senator; Mark Schauer, Michigan Senate Democratic Leader; John D. Dingell, Member of Congress; John Conyers, Member of Congress; Sander Levin, Member of Congress; Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick,
Member of Congress; Kwame Kilpatrick, Mayor, City of Detroit; Robert Ficano, Wayne County Executive; Jewel Ware, Wayne County Commission; Debbie Dingell, DNC Committee Member; Michael Tardif, DNC Committee Member; Richard Wiener, DNC Committee Member