Reuters Blogs

Front Row Washington

Tracking U.S. politics

March 18th, 2008

Clinton heads to Michigan to press case for re-vote

Posted by: Jeff Mason

WESTCHESTER, New York - Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has made a last-minute change to her campaign schedule, adding a stop in Michigan on Wednesday to push lawmakers to organize a re-do of the state’s primary election.

The New York senator’s campaign decided late on Tuesday to add a stop in Michigan so she can push for the re-run, a move that could help her presidential bid.rtr1rrob.jpg

Michigan Democratic Party leaders said earlier a proposal to redo the primary in June was stalled and unlikely to be approved before a deadline this week.

Opposition from lawmakers backing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign seemed certain to scuttle any proposal.

So Clinton is going to Detroit, where she will hold a morning event to draw attention to the cause.

“She wants to press the case that every vote should count, that the people of Michigan should be a part of this process, that no one should be disenfranchised,” a spokesman said.

“Senator Obama is standing in the way of that opportunity,” he said.

Clinton won Michigan’s Jan. 15 primary, which had been moved up earlier in the year despite party rules forbidding the early date.

Obama removed his name from the ballot and neither candidate actively campaigned in the state.

Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.

- Photo credit: Reuters/Rebecca Cook (Supporters for both candidates rally in Detroit last year.)