"You can't dis us in the winter, and expect to kiss us in the fall"

[Lefty48197]

This quote is from Rev. Wendell Anthony of the Detroit NAACP. He was speaking about the relative absence of Presidential candidates in Michigan and Detroit these days. In the last few elections we have been spoiled tremendously, with the candidates of both parties visiting Michigan many many times during their campaigns.
Today, the Democrats are nowhere to be seen around here.
This is not likely to go over well with Michigan voters. We also have a lot of mischievous voters here as well.
Jesse Jackson and John McCain both won Michigan primaries, due in part to cross over votes.
Don't be surprised if Michigan has another surprise in store.
I just may vote Sharpton. If he comes to town, I'll immediately put him at the top of my list.

Let the courtship begin.

[Ruby Romaine]

1. you might want to look at the article in the village voice about Sharpton

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0405/barrett.php

Roger Stone, the longtime Republican dirty-tricks operative who led the mob that shut down the Miami-Dade County recount and helped make George W. Bush president in 2000, is financing, staffing, and orchestrating the presidential campaign of Reverend Al Sharpton.

As for me, I'm voting for anyone who can beat *!

[revcarol]

2. Kucinich will be there fer sure.

AND he does address minority and Black concerns in the way they want them addressed: NOT the usual white person telling the Blacks what they oughta do.

He takes ALL peoples' problems, concerns seriously. AND celebrates their joys with them. A mensch.

[spooky3]

3. I understand that feeling but isn't the problem

the front loading of these primaries? The candidates had to be 7 places at once in only one week's time--and these places were about as far away from one another as you could get. Then 4 days later there are other primaries, and 2 more 3 days after that--they simply have to pick and choose where they think they can win. And for at least 3 of these guys, last Tuesday was make or break--two squeaked through and one didn't make it.

Campaigning is an absolute grind, day after day of 18 hour days or more, plus travel, with no break. I'm sure if there was any way they could get there, they would.

Another factor is that Michigan is very populous, and ad costs are probably high, plus the candidate can't meet a very high proportion of the population one-on-one, as he can in New Hampshire or other smaller states. So it's a high cost-intensive process and risky.

That said, Michigan is a critically important state. I certainly hope our nominee will give it and its citizens its due.