Clinton Will Remain on Michigan Ballot

Although almost every Democratic presidential candidate has taken his or her name off the Michigan ballot today (the deadline is at 3PM central — a little under an hour from now), Sen. Hillary Clinton will not. Keeping her name on the ballot does not technically violate the early state pledge she and the other candidates agreed to, but it will not look good in the eyes of Iowa Democrats.

Because every other major candidate submitted the necessary paperwork to remove themselves from the ballot today, there is no chance that the press will put much stock in Michigan’s results. As it relates to the primaries, Clinton’s decision (if it does not change between now and 45 minutes from now) is all downside for her in Iowa and New Hampshire and no upside in Michigan.

Is she staying on the ballot because she’s more worried about the general election? (A Democrat will probably win Michigan either way, though…) Did a certain labor organization put behind-the-scenes pressure on everybody to stick it out in Michigan, and Clinton figured she would benefit from their endorsement?

Lynda covered the story as it unfolded on Iowa Independent.

Another update: even though Sen. Chris Dodd depends on success in Iowa to keep his campaign going as much as any candidate in the race, his Iowa press secretary has confirmed to Iowa Independent that he will stay on the Michigan ballot. It’s a smart move for him, because it means he could get all of the anti-Hillary Democrats’ support there. It could also mean that any unions that planned to make their endorsements contingent on playing in Michigan will have to choose between Clinton, who has the advantage of viability but the disadvantage of her husband’s free trade record, and Dodd, who might be hoping to pull off something big there.