January 15, 2008
Posted: January 15th, 2008 08:53 PM ET
 The struggling auto industry has been a drag on Michigan's economy.
The struggling auto industry has been a drag on Michigan's economy.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - In Michigan, voters deem one issue more important than all others combined: the economy.

According to just-released exit polling, a majority of Michigan Republican primary voters - 55 percent - said the economy is the most pressing issue facing the nation. That compares to 18 percent who said Iraq, 14 percent who named illegal immigration, and 10 percent who pointed to terrorism.

That's not surprising: the state's economy is powered by the domestic automotive industry, which has struggled for years. Michigan's unemployment rate, 7.4 percent, is much higher than the national average of 5 percent.

The economy has easily been the most discussed issue on the campaign trail in Michigan. Mitt Romney, a onetime successful businessman, has taken aim at John McCain for saying many of the state’s lost jobs aren't likely to return, and that workers need to be re-trained for far different positions in new industries.

“I want to bring Michigan back," Romney said Monday. "I'm not willing to sit back and say, 'Too bad for Michigan. Too bad for the car industry. Too bad for the people who've lost their jobs; they're gone forever.'"

Meanwhile, McCain said over the weekend he would "be ashamed to tell the people of Michigan or South Carolina that all of these jobs are coming back."

"I won the New Hampshire primary because I told people the truth: what they wanted to hear, what they didn't want to hear. These people know that a lot of these jobs aren't coming back," he said.

CNNMoney.com: Michigan's economic woes on the ballot

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Filed under: Michigan


Jim, S.C   January 15th, 2008 11:50 pm ET

The uncommitted would be both Obama and Edwards togather, looks like a landslide for Senator Clinton. Not her fault Michigan messed up there Delagate Count. Both Edwards and Obama are on the Florida Ballet, knowing it too was suspended like Michigan. Senator Clinton is the best candidate for President. A Clinton / Obama ticket would be unbeatable. My gut feeling tells me that Clinton can win without Obama, but I do not feel Obama can win without Clinton. This team would be so GREAT for America.

"Senator Clinton for President of the United States 2008″

Jamie Lotze   January 15th, 2008 10:37 pm ET

I agree with an earlier poster "Darrin" from Brockport, NY.

Americans need to do their research on each candidate, don't let the media determine your decision for you. Voters should not only listen to the debates, but also go back and look at each candidate’s record through out his or her service to America.

Another problem I take issue to is cable news networks inviting the Presidential candidates they want to a debate. This is not fair to the American voter.

Please let us determine on our own who will be the next President to run this great country!

And no matter who our next President is....American people need to speak up and be heard!! Tell your local government what you’re not happy with.

After all they work for us….

Richard   January 15th, 2008 10:06 pm ET

whats more money in yor pocket without a job that has been sent to china??

kit   January 15th, 2008 10:03 pm ET

And for some reason the percentages have stayed the same every time the percents reporting have increased. That is impossible.

kit   January 15th, 2008 10:00 pm ET

Doesn't matter... from what I can tell of Michigan's polls... They look as rigged as New Hampshire. Everyone goes up not exactly but pretty dang close to the same amount of votes each percent which is unlikely. And I have a hard time believing the Rudy being the front runner before has dropped so low.

aj huntington ny   January 15th, 2008 9:45 pm ET

Do you want more money in your pocket? A conservative President will not increase your income taxes– whether you make $40,000 or $400,000, your withholding will not suffer. If you have less taken out of your check, you end up with more money in your pocket. Yes, Republicans will also take less taxes from big businesses, but them those big businesses can develop products of tomorrow, invest here in the USA and provide jobs. Raising taxes never helps the economy.

J.W. Burchell, Flint, Mi   January 15th, 2008 9:40 pm ET

I believe that all candidates will come in and tell the people what they want to hear to get their votes. watch what they pitch in the coming states respective days to vote. I think its a shame that the R.N.C AND THE D.N.C can come into Michigan and esentially tell our voters that their vote doesnt matter because they are above the establishment and voters wants and needs. They take away our delegates because we dont play by their rules. We definately need a third party. It is a slap in the face of the Michigan voters to do that to us, we have 17 electoral votes and you better believe when it comes to that they will care, but care only for our electoral votes not our wishes wants and needs that drive us to vote as we do.

David   January 15th, 2008 9:33 pm ET

Take Veronica off the list. She is what is wrong today. Rips apart a mother who has made family first – and suggests that a "job" makes a woman. Veronica's lost common sense. Of course raising a family is a top priority. If this is to be debated that we are truly sick. Her assumption is that the Romney children are failures. Based on what? Let's take fact and not opinion.

Romney is a politician – but a reality is he has turned companies around, the Olympics around, a state around. He is one of the best turn-around leaders there is. Our government needs a turn-around. Over course he can turn the automative industry around. It is time to use innovation to correct our auto industry. It needs a major overhaul.

My criticism of Romney is flip-floppying on abortion. Mitt, stick to your guns.

therealist   January 15th, 2008 9:33 pm ET

Dear Richard, If you want the economy to get better then please stop buying foreign made products.

Gary Indiana   January 15th, 2008 9:27 pm ET

I worked as a General Motors dealership mechanic for over 20 years and I can assure you all that the quality problems that I encountered ( which were very numurous) had nothing to do with the assembly proceess or labor. low quality parts were knowingly used in the manufacturing process to increase profit margins. Poor designs and new designs that had bugs still to work out were used extensively. Many designs used by General motors( like distributorless ignition ) were used 10 years earlier than Honda installed them on their cars. Of course General motorss had several problems with early distributorless ignition systems.
Sure alot of the union labor in auto manufacturing are alittle overpaid but they cant be blamed for engineering and management decisions. The overpayment of these workers and other union workers had a positive effect by lifting wages and setting higher standards for other working class jobs. An example is when the U.S. had an abundance of union jobs the pay scale of non union jobs was higher to keep employees from fleeing to union shops. kind of reminds me of trikle down economics. hah hah hah ........ anyone believe in trikle down economics now?

Richard   January 15th, 2008 9:21 pm ET

Republicans are the reason the economy is doing terrible. The job outsourcing to china has got to stop. where will our college grads work? wal mart? starbucks?

If you want the economy to get better dont vote republican!

ps i used to vote republican.. NEVER AGAIN!

Roger   January 15th, 2008 9:15 pm ET

Thank God fiscal issues dominated this race! Nobody defends American jobs like Hillary "NAFTA Superhighway" Clinton, and Mitt "I didn't know they were illegal – honest!" Romney.

lee houston, TX.   January 15th, 2008 9:11 pm ET

With 11 % of the votes in, Mitt projected the winner in Michigan

Anonymous, Somewhere, MI   January 15th, 2008 9:08 pm ET

Congratulations to Count Romnula's campaign. If this is really the best our party can do maybe the Dems just deserve to win this one.

mb   January 15th, 2008 9:06 pm ET

Veronica you are a DISGRACE to all McCain supporters everywhere for that comment. I wonder if you are really a McCain supporter at all.

lee - houston, TX   January 15th, 2008 9:06 pm ET

Mitt has 31,000 votes – McCain 25,500 – Mitt Romney projected the winner with 11% of the polls in

Veronica CA   January 15th, 2008 9:04 pm ET

To that woman above who claims her husband is working at Bain – do you really admire a couple who raised five COWARDS who run from serving their country? And who cannot hold down jobs, but blog away for one full year at 5brothers.com, at ages 27 up to 39 ??? Ann and Mitt raised 5 little wussy yes-men. Ann is the ONLY wife W/O any accomplishments/career/money of her own, look at Cindy McCain, Liz Edwards, Michele Obama, Geri Thompson, Judy Guiliani, Janet huckabee are all highly accomplished career women AND mothers ! It is 2007- Free Ann Romney. Get her out of the kitchen.

GO McCain !! Go Cindy & John !! The best !!

kevin   January 15th, 2008 9:02 pm ET

I think some of evangelaban leader Mike Huckabee's ideas mentioned earlier today (changing the constitution to miror the bible) will be quite helpful to the good people of Michigan as they struggle with unemployment, morgage crisis, the rapidly falling value of the American dollar, and our decreasing ability to complete sucessfully in world markets.

lee - houston, TX   January 15th, 2008 9:02 pm ET

with 10% reporting Romney leads 38 percent/McCain 31 percent

Tina MASS   January 15th, 2008 9:00 pm ET

lee ....it is now 31% 37% again- go Mccain !!!!!!!!! He may still win !

davinita   January 15th, 2008 8:57 pm ET

The economy needs help. I know a solution.

Tax plans do not work. Lowering or making them higher doesnt work.

The ECONOMY needs money.

I can solve the economy problem and am wondering why no one else sees it as simple as I do.

This country needs a new market one that the US is very good at.

Well, what products do Americans export the most? I am not an expert but I see Coke Budweiser and Tobacco everywhere around the world.

We sell chemical mood enhancers around the world at superior product quality and for cheaper cost than anyone else in the world. We need to tap into the new market that marajuana could offer our farmers and this country.

We need a president that will step outside the box take a stand and recognize this opportunity to bring the US back to a top exporter, create jobs, help farmers and reinvigorate the economy.

There is a demand for this product. A product that is safer than alcohol and all natural with little need for addities or preservatives. You can grow it again and again fairly quickly like tobacco.

We sell, regulate and tax caffiene, nicotine and alcohol all which have pluses and minuses, marajuana has them too and we have the best farmland in the world. We could be the top suppliers in the world on a global scale.

Imagine the possibilities if the tobacco industry got involved and started this market and got taxed.

This country would be out of recession and a huge boost to the economy would occur and desperately needed jobs would be instantly created.

Guaranteed.

What are the reasons that these politicians deny this market that we could tap into?

We would have such a boost to the economy we could fund universal healthcare like they have in every other civilized country.

This country was founded by people with a pioneering spirit. We need a pioneering president to break new ground open new markets and rejuvenate this country and get us to love it and believe in it once again.

Strengthing the home and heartland especially USA farmers would make this country strong.

Veronica CA   January 15th, 2008 8:56 pm ET

To that woman above who claims her husband is working at Bain – do you really admire a couple who raised five COWARDS who run from serving their country? And who cannot hold down jobs, but blog away for one full year at 5brothers.com, at ages 27 up to 39 ??? Ann and Mitt raised 5 little wussy yes-men. Ann is the ONLY wife W/O any accomplishments/career/money of her own, look at Cindy McCain, Liz Edwards, Michele Obama, Geri Thompson, Judy Guiliani, Janet huckabee are all highly accomplished career women AND mothers ! It is 2007- Free Ann Romney. Get her out of the kitchen.

GO McCain !! Go Cindy & John !! The best !!

lee - houston, TX   January 15th, 2008 8:52 pm ET

Romney's lead has narrowed 35 percent to McCain's 32 percent

mb   January 15th, 2008 8:51 pm ET

What has McCain, "The Great Washington Insider" done for the economy? HUH? NOTHING! It's not like he hasn't had the opportunity! He's such a big talker!! McCain has had his chance.

Time for new blood. I'm voting Romney. He can run circles around McCain, and McCain knows it therefore he talks pessimistic and says that he is the one "telling the truth".

ROMNEY 2008! -K Wilkinson
----------------------------–

wow, that's filled with so many inaccuracies. what's worse is that i even felt compelled to comment on something so silly.

lee - houston, TX   January 15th, 2008 8:41 pm ET

Romney leads with 38 percent to McCain's 31 percent

Hank Macknee   January 15th, 2008 8:37 pm ET

I don't think Romney should be telling Michigan voters he will roll back fuel milage standards. We are already too dependent on foreigh oil.

Shelly   January 15th, 2008 8:36 pm ET

The Fiscal concern should be at everyone first concern.I work in the depths of the short sale market,where banks are so very disorganised they just perfer the homes to get foreclosed.Meanwhile The homeowners think they have a chance. Currently their are 1,000 a week going into "Notice of Default" just in west Phoenix.,,AZ

The banks take 3-4 months to organise the files and make decisions,if they don't lose them in the meanwhile ,by then the homeowners credit is so bad they cannot rent anywhere,they know this,
so they are now just leaving their homes before their "notice of default". To rent somewhere before their credit is destroyed.
I was speaking with a Work-out dept manager in a loss mitigation dept,he was saying ,people are talking about no way out and sucide,as their choice.
Can we please consider strongly NOW,Replacing Mr. B.S. Bernanke? Or can we get him so help to slow down this snowballing Nation killer.
You , need to expose in depth what the banks are really doing ,This has gone to deep to recover.

Ed,Ellenville,New York   January 15th, 2008 8:35 pm ET

Romney now says we're electing a "secular president" when just a few weeks ago he said secular beliefs were just wrong. He flip-flops so quickly that "used car salesman" is too good for him.

Kim   January 15th, 2008 8:30 pm ET

Not everyone in Michigan lives in Detroit, or works within the auto industry. It may seem petty, but there is much more to Michigan. As a registered Democrat I cannot begin to tell you how disappointed I am in the party both nationally and locally. I did vote today, however this is the first time I have felt like my vote meant absolutely nothing.

Peter   January 15th, 2008 8:25 pm ET

Stop equating Romney's business success with anything he might bring to the country; it's lazy thinking. Romney left MA with an unemployment rate higher than the national average. He is only trying to say the next thing to try and win votes. His business model at Bain was to take apart companies and sell them at a higher price. Nothing about jobs, just profits.

K Wilkinson   January 15th, 2008 8:22 pm ET

What has McCain, "The Great Washington Insider" done for the economy? HUH? NOTHING! It's not like he hasn't had the opportunity! He's such a big talker!! McCain has had his chance.

Time for new blood. I'm voting Romney. He can run circles around McCain, and McCain knows it therefore he talks pessimistic and says that he is the one "telling the truth".

ROMNEY 2008!

mb   January 15th, 2008 8:22 pm ET

I wonder if Romney will continue to make so many promises to all the states before the election. he'll certainly have a full plate ahead of him if elected.
to me, he was desperate for the win so he started appealing to the local heartstrings as much as possible while labeling McCain's realism as plain pessimism. and he will probably win because of it.
he's just to slick for me. he says he's going to be a "Changer" from outside Washington- yeah just like Gov. Bush.

tina, hudson, ohio   January 15th, 2008 8:22 pm ET

Thanks, Nina. As the daughter and granddaughter of farmers, I see your point.

Probably most people don't get it tho.

They want us all to rail against illegal immigrants - who are doing the hard and physically exhausting work that no one else will do. which of these guys has ever harvested a crop, run a combine, gotten muddy to their thighs? it's all an abstraction to most people...including Romney, Guiliani (OMG), Clinton, Obama, McCain.

I'll actually vote for one of them (and have given financial support), but there's a whole part of america that most people don't see or understand.

Bringing the auto industry back to it's 60s/70s hayday? Don't be stupid.

Jim in Orlando, FL   January 15th, 2008 8:14 pm ET

Small-minded quote from above: "Romney would make a GREAT used car salesman. Not a President. A used car salesman".

I am not a Mitt supporter, but this displays the itty bitty intellect that brings us sound-bite Presidents who can't perform except when in front of a camera, and some struggle there as well. Romney's track record is exceedingly impressive, from his college days throughout his entire business and political career. His cup drippeth over with success. If Mitt ever were a used car salesman, odds are he'd be president of the entire company in less than a decade.

Hank Macknee   January 15th, 2008 8:11 pm ET

nobama
How can you complain about tax and spend Democrats when the Republican Party has cut taxes and splurged for over a quarter of a century. After WWII the National Debt took 35 years to rise to $1 trillion dollars. In less time than that Republicans have added $8 trillion to the National Debt. The National Debt now stands at $9.2 trillion and your personal bill for back taxes is $30,259.09. Every man woman and child in the United States owes that amount in taxes. How can you complain about paying taxes if you vote Republican?

If we do not pay enough taxes to support the Republican or Democrats spending in Washington, who will pay it. Republicans have put our county in debt. They deregulated lending institutions and encouraged people to spend, spend, spend. Republicans have failed to invest in alternative energy and have put us at the mercy of Arab countries.

DF   January 15th, 2008 8:04 pm ET

I've been skeptical of McCain every since he did a flipflop and sided with Bush during the 2004 election when it was rumored that McCain might become John Kerry's runnng mate-remember that?

Romney has proven that he is a leader, and will make the needed changes that can improve an economy (i.e. as govenor of MA). I hope that Americans do not make a collassal mistake once again and vote into office the WRONG person.

lee - houston, TX   January 15th, 2008 8:02 pm ET

Romney now leads 34 delegates to McCains' 28

britneys steering wheel   January 15th, 2008 8:00 pm ET

But if part of Mich. is in the Central Time Zone and part is in Eastern, wouldn't it be 7:00 Central when it's 8:00 eastern ?

Rebecca   January 15th, 2008 7:57 pm ET

I'm baffled by the folks who are writing that we
need to give up on the American auto industry, sharing McCain's perspective on the issue.

The reasons Detroit is in it's current state ARE ALL REVERSABLE. Here are the main ones.

1) Poor vehicle quality compared to imports
2) High operational costs/unrealist benefits packages
3) Losing mkt share to more economical foreign models
4) Lack of inovation

Most of the U.S. manufacturers are making headway in all these areas, but the industry is like an ocean liner: it takes a long time to turn around. McCain and the others who are giving up on it are crazy. Those jobs can come back, but, yes, they will pay substantially les.

Charlie   January 15th, 2008 7:56 pm ET

Give me a break! What is the REAL cause of the sagging Michigan auto economy. Sloppy work by unions while demanding ever higher wages and perks that have priced their sloppy crap out of the market. Now they are whining that, I am sure, it's Bush's fault. Bunch of cry babies. You reap what you sow and you have been sowing your downfall for years. God forbid that the Clinton's resume power.

Charlie   January 15th, 2008 7:53 pm ET

What a pathetic bunch! The sloppy union work while demanding astronomical wages and benefits is THE REASON

TH   January 15th, 2008 7:51 pm ET

how can you say thing like that? why Obama and Edward don't want ballot in Michigan? I think because they don't consider Michigan's Democrat voters, to repair gor another big voters like Nevada and N.S. How can they do that to voters? Only Hilary can represent their voice now.

Jerry   January 15th, 2008 7:51 pm ET

Seems to me, the press and networks determine the most important issues. They don't cover Iraq anymore because no one is getting killed. Instead, the publish all the economic news, in its worst light, making most people feel insecure about that issue. It's as if overnite, the economy took a dive. Is that possible?

Steve, Virginia   January 15th, 2008 7:50 pm ET

Romney would make a GREAT used car salesman. Not a President. A used car salesman.

Tiberius   January 15th, 2008 7:50 pm ET

J Cole: you forget that part of the U.P. is in the Central time zone, 8PM there equals 9pm Eastern

As far as Michigan's economy is concerned as long a Granholm is running the state into the ground it's not going to matter much who the President is.

Teacher   January 15th, 2008 7:49 pm ET

Thanks JOHN, Great post.Spoken like a true Patriot.You sound like you have b een watching Lou Dobbs or read his book 'War on The Middle Class"...................NINA,Sorry but an under ground economy in drugs is already making many polititions very rich in bribe money and they dont want their boat rocked.

ellen scroggins   January 15th, 2008 7:49 pm ET

Regarding the subprime impact and the lack of Federal intervention. The Federal Reserve controls the money and even though the name is Federal Reserve, it is not government controlled, but controlled by the private banking industry. For our government to take control of the value of US money or even make a course correction, we will have to change the fundamentals of our monetary system. Our falling dollar is working well for global interests, not for Americans. Ron Paul called this out years ago and recently, the anointed candidates scoff and commentators smirk, but the reality is crashing in.

lee - houston, TX   January 15th, 2008 7:46 pm ET

Romney leads in Mich.

H.Clinton   January 15th, 2008 7:44 pm ET

No matter which candidate you prefer. This is a must watch video that explains how we have been mislead and literally robbed over the years............. It is a 30 minute video but it is a must watch........ .......http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8537051485267127055&q=banking+federal+reserve&total=282&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=4................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... This is a very easy to understand video. Please for the sake of your family watch and listen

Brian A   January 15th, 2008 7:44 pm ET

Mitt Romney is the only one in this race that can actually turn around America's economy, in either party. Yes, he comes across as almost too perfect, but that isn't a bad thing!

He's brilliant with money and turning around failing businesses (our entire economy is failing, Michigan is just the canary in the mine shaft). He turned around the Olympics. And he turned around Massachusetts.

He's clean, well spoken, honest, and has the best chance of winning the general election. Go Mitt!

Romney Economy   January 15th, 2008 7:41 pm ET

Romeny = Economy

McCain + War Pain

I need a job not a war.

Daniel, WA   January 15th, 2008 7:40 pm ET

While Romney's passion for the car industry is admirable, I wonder if that is something that should be concerning the PRESIDENT of the US. If he thinks he has the brains and ideas to turn the American auto industry around, he should apply to work as their CEO. Our President needs to be someone who can take a fair, unbiased look at the economy as a whole, not just cater to separate individual sectors.

Dan, I am not sure how often you read what is going on in the U.S., this appears to be a very naive remark. If you honestly think this is the only thing Romney has the capability to do or that he has stated anywhere close to such you are definitely mistaken. Have you read artictles, have you seen any of the debates? Have you seen the success Romney had within Mass. with healthcare, his strong stance on immigration...his record of turnaround success with virtually anything he touched? Apparently not. (I assume you were referring specifically to one car company, but there is non CEO for all these auto companies in Michigan for example.

The skills and experience and problem solving capabilities that Mitt has are what will allow him to tackle various issues, not just economic ones. He is truly what America needs. He's not in this for money, that's for sure....

Cheryl   January 15th, 2008 7:38 pm ET

While I have the same concerns that are obvious to all Americans, regardless of race, religion, gender, etc. One of this issues that I am outraged about – as a Michigan resident – is the ridiculous ruling by the DNC to eliminate the delegates for Michigan at the DNC. Don't they understand just how stupid this is? How about smacking the residents right in the face. Just chase the youth and independant voters to the Republican ballot. Do they understand or care about the long term effects this will have on a solid democrat state. The citizens did not even have a say in this.

I am also extremely upset that Obama and Edwards pulled their names off the Michigan ballot. To me, they don't really care about our citizens. They buckled under. I do not think they deserve to have any delegates from Michigan if they purposely took their names off the ballot. And the decision of the state to add "undesignated" to the ballot adds insult to injury. Now, even though they chose to leave us out to hang without delegates, they can still get delegates by the undesignated vote.

I also take issue with the Democratic debate being held on the same date as out primary. Another slap in the face by the DNC.

Now I am assured that we will "probably" regain our delegates – but it won't be the same. Instead of people going in and having a voice for who they want to see run as the democratic candidate we will hear how, of course Hilary won the delegates – she's the only one on the ballot. Well again, it was their stupid choice to take their names off the ballot and they should suffer the consequences that come with that choice.

Now the citizens are told to go and vote republican because the democratic side is worthless. Does this bother anyone else.

I wish the news media would report the news – not create it.

Jo Ann   January 15th, 2008 7:38 pm ET

My question is whose policies allowed Michigan and the rest of the country to fall apart in the first place. The Republicans have been in control of the White House and the Congress for seven years and what do they have to show for it? A worthless war for oil and the continual outsourcing of jobs.

T.C.   January 15th, 2008 7:37 pm ET

I know one thing. And that is if John Edwards is still in the race for the presidency when Ohio gets to go to the polls that is who I am voting for. Reason being is that the two front runners of the democratic party have done nothing to let me begin to think that they are worthy of being President. The only things that I have heard is the war of words between the two of them. Whether it be over health care, taxes, the war in Iraq, or race. Who cares that these two are stuck in a bitter battle. The man in the back should be the one that gets the nomination. If he don't then I don't know what other Americans have been listening to. John Edwards makes the most sense out of everyone that I have took the time to listen to.He has the best ideas for the national economy, universal health care, taxes, the war in Iraq, illegal immigration, and countless other things. But if he drops out I am going to have to give a republican my vote and I really don't want to. But I find no other democrat worthy of my vote. And that republican is Mike Huckabee. Not only do I feel this way but several others that I associate with also feel the same way.

Fred   January 15th, 2008 7:37 pm ET

Why is it that every eight years everything is broke in Washington and everyone runs on CHANGE? Same old stuff year after year. McCain seems to tell you stuff that may hurt but at least he seems to be telling the truth.

We need to get Congress away from trying to fix baseball to getting back to work for the American people.

Ann, Ann Arbor   January 15th, 2008 7:34 pm ET

CNN:

We're not going to see headlines tonight and tomorrow that reward Senator Clinton for keeping her name on the Michigan Democratic ballot, are we?

Even a hint of a suggestion that she won will be yellow journalism at its worst. Senators Obama and Edwards pulled their names from the ballots. Senator Clinton did not. That's what's known around the world fondly as a Communist election.

You'll make a laughingstock of yourselves if you so much as hint that "she got the most votes."

SamHouston, Clarendon, Texas   January 15th, 2008 7:33 pm ET

It's not the "ECONOMY STUPID" it's the Personal DEBT STUPID. Plus Bush and Company have run up a National Debt of $9.75 Trillion which has to be paid for by your Kids and their Kids and their Kids.

The best you can wish for these days is "GET OUT OF DEBT AS SOON AS YOU CAN" and cut up all your Credit cards.

Rick   January 15th, 2008 7:31 pm ET

A number of the comments on here are ridiculous, especially the long ones. Amazing who comes out of the woodwork.

I'm primarily a Romney supporter, although I'd favor Thompson, McCain, or Guiliani too. I'm definitely surprised that Guiliani's not doing better and appealing to a wider audience. He does have a grasp of many important issues,

Listening to them on the issues in the last debate, they definitely showed their understanding of the issues. Ron Paul has many good ideas, but unfortunately he's advocating too many big changes at once. Huckabee is a pretender. He doesn't even know what he doesn't know, and getting him into office would get us into an even bigger world of hurt that we are right now. We need to right the ship, and put a joker at the helm.

As it looks right now, Romney will have the most delegates heading into Super Tuesday, and this bodes well. I pray that the citizens of this great land focus on the issues, and who is most qualified to guide us through the next 4 to 8 years, and don't get distracted by the rhetoric and controversies that mudslinging creates. Whoever that candidate is, I hope and trust that we'll make the right choice.

David, Bay Area, CA   January 15th, 2008 7:31 pm ET

It will be interesting to see if Michigan voters respond more positively to Romney's pandering or McCain's honesty; I'm guessing it will be the former. What exactly would Romney do to "bring those jobs" back? They're gone. The market's changed, the industry's changed, and the only conceivable way to create a resurgence in manufacturing jobs in Michigan would be massive (and destructive) government intervention.

Jared C.- in Korea   January 15th, 2008 7:30 pm ET

Mitt Romney is the man for the job. He has experience, leadership, and morals. We will have two golds and two silvers- putting him solidly in 1st place both with delegates and the popular vote. We support you overseas. Mitt is the man!

Will   January 15th, 2008 7:28 pm ET

Can we please get John Edwards to drop out of this race so OBAMA can wip Billary’s ass. She is stopping the Nevada people from causing for OBAMA with a lawsuit. Taking trying to take their civil right to caucus away WE NEED TO START THIS MOVEMENT NOW....PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.........

Dan   January 15th, 2008 7:24 pm ET

While Romney's passion for the car industry is admirable, I wonder if that is something that should be concerning the PRESIDENT of the US. If he thinks he has the brains and ideas to turn the American auto industry around, he should apply to work as their CEO. Our President needs to be someone who can take a fair, unbiased look at the economy as a whole, not just cater to separate individual sectors.

kit   January 15th, 2008 7:24 pm ET

And I don't care who is against it my vote will be Ron Paul or Rudy regardless of who makes the final ballots. Cause the rest of them are saying anything that is going to help us. They are just twisting it enough for people to think they are. And to the person on the gas tax. We do NOT need a gas tax when we can barely afford to live anymore and that's everyone now not just the poor. I am middle class and I can tell you I barely get by anymore. So I say taxes are a major issue and have a lot to do with the economy. Our jobs need to come back here, so give huge import/export taxes to force companies back. Get rid of income tax and have a national sales tax. At least then you have a choice and the government would get more money and from everyone not just the working class.

Water   January 15th, 2008 7:24 pm ET

Each candidate said that caring for economy and wanna change! However should we believe what they said? Can they bring some changes on stagnancy of Auto??

J Cole   January 15th, 2008 7:22 pm ET

How can I TRUST CNN about Anything. The Poll closing Clock is WRONG by 1 hour. The Poles close at 8pm not 9pm in Michigan. I just voted. The clock has been rolling on Situation Room and lou dobbs.

kit   January 15th, 2008 7:17 pm ET

The economy needs help, but so does america if any of the top contenders right now win. It means people are just getting more stupid. I haven't heard a thing from any of those top contenders that actually helps the economy. So woohoo for ending up just as bad off if not worse due to stupidness and not listening enough to the people that actually do want to make a difference.

Phil   January 15th, 2008 7:16 pm ET

Maybe we should add to McCains statement on Michigan jobs that the Republicans are not coming back also!! It is time for a big change.

Ellen   January 15th, 2008 7:14 pm ET

One of the reasons that the economy is so bad right now is the sub-prime mortgage crisis and its impact on housing. While we were due for a correction, it became a crisis. It's not just greedy/unscrupulous lenders and the corporate interests that bought those loans that's to blame (along with some consumers who gambled or were duped). The Feds were warned several years ago that this would likely happen unless they acted. Just another example of the incompentence of the Bush administration and the fact that it looks away when companies are making short-term gains. Now we ALL have to pay the price for their negligence.

nobama   January 15th, 2008 7:12 pm ET

I want more money for you and I - less money for Congress -

Democrats' plan to let Pres. Bush's tax cuts lapse will not help the economy. And raising taxes to pay for Hillary or Obama's big social programs to help those who don't particularly care to work will not help the economy. Giving someone more money in their check by lowering or eliminating income tax will put money not in Congress' hands but in yours and my hands and then back into the economy .

Bill   January 15th, 2008 7:12 pm ET

Tim, I think you have it all wrong. McCain is not being pessimistic he is being honest and you don't know how to deal with a politician who does that. Romney is the most fake candidate I have ever seen. He is a converted Liberal who changed his mind in the power conservative days of the early part of this decade. He tells the voters of Michigan he can save the auto industry. I know that is what you want to hear but the reality is that he is blowing steam to buy votes. McCain is honest to a fault sometimes. Read his book, here is a candidate who is the real thing. He rejected leaving Vietnam to stay with his fellow soldiers, think about that how many people do you know who would volunteer to be tortured for integrity?

nobama   January 15th, 2008 7:08 pm ET

Mitt Romney has a slim lead, according to Reuters. .

Nate   January 15th, 2008 7:07 pm ET

Mcain who? What's a shame is a tired old man running on a Republican ticket who has alinged himself with the likes of Finegold and Kennedy. He should be checked to see if he isnt losing his mind before someone tries to put him in office. Gulinai is my choice. Anyone who can turn an all Democratic City such as New York around and clean it up has my Vote.

David   January 15th, 2008 7:06 pm ET

Dear Doug,

This also means Republicans can vote and screw with Democratic Primaries in Michigan, as they have several times in the past. The big, bad, Democrats aren't just picking on the poor, innocent Republicans. Turnabout is fair play and I hope the Democrats teach you that lesson over and over during the next four years. So, my suggestion to you is to suck it up, crybaby.

Peace,
David

Darth Vadik, CA   January 15th, 2008 7:00 pm ET

Since this Michigan Democratic primary doesnt count, the voter turnout for the Democrats will be low, so of course the main things are going to be TEEEEERRRORRISSMMM (they are coming to get you) and TAAAAAAXXEEESSSS (they will all lower taxes, FOR THE RICH).

Tim   January 15th, 2008 6:59 pm ET

Washington needs some new blood. New ideas with a different perspective would help.

Mitt Romney is offering just that. John McCain's pessimism will not help the United States regain its lead in technology and manufacturing.

We don't need "We can't" attitudes. We need vision. We need hope. We need Romney.

mark122077   January 15th, 2008 6:56 pm ET

My wife said the economy is the most important issue today, because we should all have more money per individual, however I believe that the issues concerning this country that should matter most are communication barriers between our country as a whole and with our world economies as well.

nina   January 15th, 2008 6:56 pm ET

The economy needs help. I know a solution.

Tax plans do not work. Lowering or making them higher doesnt work.

The ECONOMY needs money.

I can solve the economy problem and am wondering why no one else sees it as simple as I do.

This country needs a new market one that the US is very good at.

Well, what products do Americans export the most? I am not an expert but I see Coke Budweiser and Tobacco everywhere around the world.

We sell chemical mood enhancers around the world at superior product quality and for cheaper cost than anyone else in the world. We need to tap into the new market that marajuana could offer our farmers and this country.

We need a president that will step outside the box take a stand and recognize this opportunity to bring the US back to a top exporter, create jobs, help farmers and reinvigorate the economy.

There is a demand for this product. A product that is safer than alcohol and all natural with little need for addities or preservatives. You can grow it again and again fairly quickly like tobacco.

We sell caffiene, nicotine and alcohol all which have pluses and minuses, marajuana has them too and we have the best farmland in the world. We could be the top suppliers in the world on a global scale.

Imagine the possibilities if the tobacco industry got involved and started this market and got taxed.

This country would be out of recession and a huge boost to the economy would occur and desperately needed jobs would be instantly created.

Guaranteed.

What are the reasons that these politicians deny this market that we could tap into?

We would have such a boost to the economy we could fund universal healthcare like they have in every other civilized country.

This country was founded by people with a pioneering spirit. We need a pioneering president to break new ground open new markets and rejuvenate this country and get us to love it and believe in it once again.

Strengthing the home and heartland especially USA farmers would make this country strong.

Scott   January 15th, 2008 6:55 pm ET

What did the polls say about results???

cwit   January 15th, 2008 6:53 pm ET

Governor Romney is not just telling Michigan what they want to hear when he says he can work to turn around their economy. He has the brains and the experience to do it. I know the kind of people who they hire at Bain, because my husband is trying to start his post business-school career there, and you pretty much have to be a genius to work there. Mitt Romney not only worked there, he ran the company, among other things, like the Olympics, and Massachusetts. If Mitt Romney says he'll work to turn Michigan's economy again, he'll figure it out and solve the problem.

McCain is just jealous he doesn't have the same brilliant business mind.

I'm voting for Romney. Because he's sharp as a tack, and only a really good man (and his great wife!) can raise five completely well-adjusted sons.

Tom   January 15th, 2008 6:53 pm ET

So?

Marc Watt   January 15th, 2008 6:53 pm ET

State of michigan completely dropped the ball on this. To disenfranchise an entire state because of some pissing match is ridiculous. The blame lies there. As a democrat I nearly voted for Ron Paul just to monkey with the system, but I stuck to Uncommitted. OBAMA!!!

Bob   January 15th, 2008 6:53 pm ET

I have to admire McCain's honesty. He said that Michigan will not get all of those lost jobs back and that he would work to retrain people for other jobs. Well he is right about the jobs. It certainly is possible to help the auto industry in Michigan, but never will the auto industry in Michigan be everything it was in the past. Anyone who promises to return the industry to what it was at its height is making empty promises to get votes.

Bradley Schaubs, Greeley, CO   January 15th, 2008 6:52 pm ET

Romney, being a business man and POTUS are two radically different things. And when I read your comments and actions (barring the 35 MPG standard from passing), you came off to me as being another George Bush. I will not stand for you. You may have saved companies, but this country needs someone more up to speed with the desires of the average citizen.

ECO   January 15th, 2008 6:52 pm ET

What's the matter Doug, afraid that disenfranchised Dems will vote for Ron Paul?

John   January 15th, 2008 6:49 pm ET

Dear Media,

I’m writing about the sub-prime problem in America. This problem was not created by just one greedy corporation taking advantage of people not qualified for mortgages. It’s the entire industry across the nation, banks, brokerage houses, mortgage companies; they all participated in this dismantling and brought our credit rating as a nation below “AAA” for the first time in the history of America.

If the greedy corporations and corrupt politicians are not committing treason, who is? With words like globalization and privatization they’re dividing up our country and selling off our future. Is America becoming the 21st Century Atlantis? Are we going to pass into history as another mystery of mankind or just another casualty of greed? Our jobs and our credit rating were sold to India for cheap labor and now they’re not accepting the American Dollar.

A major reason why they can get away with this conspiracy is the majority of the people in this country still believe they’re being told the truth. How do you wake up the 50% of the workers of America that are only earning 13% of the money and get them to understand the worst is yet to come? Our standard of living in America is under attack and we are becoming a country of the haves and the have not.

Katrina was not a demonstration of incompetence as they wanted you to believe. Instead it was a carefully planned re-distribution of the poor for the rest of the nation to share. When the city of New Orleans returns more economically sound and with less crime, everyone will forget at what cost. The ratio of the haves and the have not would have dramatically diminished.

Eighty-five percent of Americans are against illegal immigration but eighty-five percent of our congress continues to push for it. While Americans understand the economic pressures illegal immigrations have on their standard of living, congress continues to push an issue that no other government would tolerate.

This brings us to Identity theft, another issue that only favors greedy corporations and illegal immigration. I believe congress sees this as a solution to the social security fund. Americans are discovering, in most cases, that their identity was stolen, their credit was ruined and they’re tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Now they owe taxes and the retirement portion of the social security fund was used to pay those taxes. What a great solution to the bankrupt social security fund. Any pension fund or money manager would be jailed by the regulators for mismanagement of funds if they followed congress’s example.

Americans must take a pro-active approach to save their country from the greedy corporations and corrupt politicians. The media must do the job, laws must be enforced and conspiracies must be identified and participant jailed.

We are all Americans and we all need to defend our country from the internal forces that are working against our citizens. I am not a conspiracy nut. But if we don’t stop and recognize the obvious we will see the economy of the United States collapse. Our banks are carrying too much bad debt and our dollar’s buying power continues to diminish. What if our creditors’ demanded to be paid in Euros instead of dollars? How much are you willing to pay for a gallon of gasoline?

I want to thank you for your time to read this letter and I hope you take a proactive approach to help the American People.

Darrin Brockport, NY   January 15th, 2008 6:49 pm ET

January 15, 2008 11:30 am EST

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul says a proposal to raise the federal gasoline tax is the last thing the American people need in a slumping economy. The recommendation comes from a panel made of corporate executives and government bureaucrats commissioned by Congress in the 2005 transportation bill. Congressman Paul was one of nine votes in the House against the bill.

“This is a great example of how out of touch big government and big business are with the American people,” Paul said. “With gas at three dollars a gallon and a slowing economy, the last thing we need is a tax increase to be paid by Americans who can least afford it.”

Paul called on the other presidential candidates to join him in opposing this and any other tax increase proposals that come down in the future.

Cmon people join the fight...think about it....if I were corrupt and in government I too would be concerned if Ron Paul was elected......thats why they keep trying to censor him.......we need drastic change folks....please review all of the candidates carefully and lets take back our country!!!!!!!!

Fred Findley   January 15th, 2008 6:48 pm ET

Ignorance is really bliss for those that follow like sheep. But then most of those make no real contributions to the economy but still benefit for those us that have the pride they lack in our nation.

Doug   January 15th, 2008 6:42 pm ET

It is a sham that non-Republicans can vote in that party's internal election. Even Mexico does not allow that. I doubt if any other country does.

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