I was reading CNN’s compilation of thoughts from Michigan voters and also heard from a friend in the state this morning. I don’t think it is a surprise that the sentiment coming from Democrats there is not a pleasant one because in short, their voices were not heard. That isn’t to say they aren’t happy with Senator Clinton, all things being equal she might have won anyway, but because the state’s delegates will be denied from the convention and because their race was uncontested.

I have made no secret on this blog that I am not in favor of keeping Iowa and New Hampshire’s hold over either parties nomination process. This was a concoction that has only developed since the 1970’s and in short it is one that won’t last. When we look at the mainstream media’s desire to call the entire Democratic nomination after just the small state of Iowa’s caucus, you see the sheer stupidity of this system and how it can be mishandled.

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Last night as John McCain took to the stage to give his concession speech in South Carolina, he was interrupted, by the winner of the Michigan primary Mitt Romney. Television coverage broke from McCain to Romney breaking what is typical protocol on election night where the winner allows those who lost the chance to speak.

From the New York Times:

Some McCain aides were taken aback that their speech was pre-empted, and said that the McCain campaign manager, Rick Davis, had called the Romney campaign and told them that Mr. McCain was about to speak. “Perhaps it was an accident,’’ said a senior McCain adviser, “but if it wasn’t, it was classless.”

The ill-will between the McCain and Romney camps was evident earlier in the night.

Before the race was called, Steve Schmidt, an adviser to the McCain campaign, told reporters gathered here that, “Mitt Romney has an amazing capacity that many of us hold in awe to be able to look anyone in the eye and tell them that the blue sky is red, that the yellow sun is pink, but at the end of the day, in a presidential contest, voters want someone who will tell them the truth.’’

Though everyone will claim it was a simple mix-up, which it probably was, one thing is for certain. A lot of bad blood is being spilled in this campaign and with the Republican race being hotly contested, things are only going to heat up.

Mitt Romney has been announced the projected winner in Michigan.

As noted in several posts on this blog Senator Clinton is the only top-tier Democratic candidate who appeared on the ballot in Michigan. Obama & Edwards, who both decided not to participate, have instead urged their supporters to vote uncommitted. If 15 percent of the vote in a congressional district is uncommitted, its delegates will be free to represent any candidate.

So though Clinton will undoubtedly win Obama and Edwards may have found a way to cut a little into that win. Not that it matters, at the moment Michigan’s delegates will not be allowed to attend the convention, though that could always change.

Boston Globe reports:

arly exit polling from Michigan appears to bode well for Mitt Romney and ill for John McCain.

McCain won the Republican primary in 2000, thanks largely to support from independents and Democrats who crossed over.

But while independents made up 35 percent of primary voters in 2000, they only comprised about 25 percent of voters today, according to the exit poll, conducted by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International for The Associated Press and television networks.

While Republicans made up less than half of primary voters in 2000, two-thirds of GOP primary voters surveyed today said they were registered Republicans, according to the exit poll.

Thinking back to New Hampshire I wouldn’t automatically assume a win for Romney because we won’t know until the votes are counted but it is the first sign we’ve seen today on how tonight might turn out.

From the Associated Press Mitt Romney is pulling his advertising in South Carolina and Florida to focus on Michigan where he is running a tight race against John McCain.

Romney had been spending about $280,000 per week in South Carolina and spent $3 million there last year, according to rival campaigns. In Florida, he had been spending $160,000 per week and had spent 2.5 million in 2007.