Yes, as Ms. Zanotti previously noted McCain is a tad active in Michigan today… and as I’ve previously noted, he’s got a lot riding on the state, especially with the Michigan primary date moved way back to January 15, a day after Iowa and a week ahead of New Hampshire. By moving the date the state has angered the national parties. The DNC is threatening to withhold all of the state’s convention delegates — legally Republicans can only withhold half the state’s delegates. It looks like Michigan may just go ahead and hold the primary the day after Iowa regardless.
While winning Michigan’s primary in these circumstances may be a tad pyrrhic, the publicity alone that accompanies winning such a large swing state it could be a huge boost to the victor heading into New Hampshire. And that victor could very well be John McCain. The last poll I checked, Romney and Giuliani are within the margin of error tied for the lead in the state. But significantly, McCain was just barely outside the margin of error, one percentage point behind Romney. McCain also has the largest grassroots organization in the state and could very possibly pull off a surprise victory. He’s been out of the first tier for so long, such an upset could conceivably — and I stress conceivably — cause voters and the press to look at him anew and pull off a win in New Hampshire.
The McCain campaign continues to focus much of its energy in the state — they just released this commercial for Michigan, specifically addressing job training, a hot issue in the worst state economy in the country. If he wants the nomination, the Arizona Senator needs to keep doing well in Michigan and that makes today’s debate perormance in Detroit extra important. Stay tuned.