DNC Talk: Michigan Key State

It’s nice to be courted.

As the election for president continues, Michigan looms large as a battleground state. For instance, The Detroit News quotes Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer as saying, “Barack Obama will not be president of the United States if he doesn’t win Michigan.” The state was also mentioned repeatedly as a “must win” for Obama on MSNBC's Morning Joe with Joe Scarborough on August 24th as he spoke with Governor Mitt Romney (R) and Former Democratic Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D) .

This kind of recognition means that Michigan will be a central focus in both candidates’ campaign strategies leading up to November:

• According to the The Michigan Messenger, Obama picked truck driver Roy Gross, a Taylor resident, to speak on Thursday night at Invesco Field in Denver, the same night Obama will be accepting the Democratic nomination. Gross will talk about the teetering Michigan economy.
• According to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan Democrats are hosting over 200 “watch parties” on Thursday night in celebration of Obama’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination. Most of the parties will be hosted in the Metro Detroit Area. According to the article, McCain’s website is also soliciting hosts for watch parties during the Republican National Convention.
• Michigan will receive a visit, along with Pennsylvania and Ohio, from Obama and Biden immediately following the close of the convention.

The Detroit News narrows the swing factor further, zeroing in on Oakland County as holding the key for the candidates. This will undoubtedly result in even more visits from the candidates over the next two months.

What does this mean for Michiganders in general and Oakland County residents in particular? Get thee to the polls!