Michigan Status No Longer in Doubt

For a significant period of time, John Kerry was behind in the traditionally Democratic state of Michigan. Michigan has a Democratic governor and two Democratic senators. Gore won by a large margin in 2000, and Michigan has been hit hard with job losses under President Bush. Kerry was struggling, however, because of a lack of popular support among senior citizens and because of a lack of a clear message. Now, however, Kerry's performance in the debates has pushed him ahead of Bush. Ironically, neither candidate did significant campaigning in Michigan despite its 17 electoral votes that seemed to be up for grabs until a week or two ago, probably because Michigan consistently votes Democrat. Now, political analysts can refocus their attention on the three most significant swing states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

Works Consulted
Apple Jr., R.W. "Kerry in the Lead, but Almost by Default." The New York Times 21
Oct. 2004. 21 Oct. 2004 http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/21/politics/campaign/ 21michigan.html?pagewanted=1.