Is the Michigan primary prone to pranks?

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Mitt Romney hopes to win the state where his father was governor. But will Democrats taint the victory?

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Is the Michigan primary prone to pranks?

The Republican once seen as a front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination has pinned his hopes on tonight's primary in Michigan. But even if he wins, there's no guarantee it will be because Republicans love him.

Michigan, you see, has an "open" primary, meaning Democrats can cross over and vote for Republicans -- and vice versa. Due to scheduling fights, though, only Hillary Clinton is on the Democratic ballot. That has some Democrats -- led by lefty blogger Markos Moulitsas -- scheming to help produce a Romney win they believe will further fracture a frail GOP.

Can Mitt win? And if he does, will it matter?

Ben likes: Hacking Michigan

Jim Geraghty/National Review Online

If you’re Obama or Edwards, you don’t want Democrats crossing over to play mischief in the Republican primary, as Hillary could easily throw more than 100 delegates onto her pile, which may or may not be counted later. (Pulling out of Michigan in accordance to the DNC’s wishes is going to look like a mistake on Obama’s part.)

It seems reasonable to conclude that a state that is 14 percent African-American may have some votes for Obama, and that a state with a workforce that is 21 percent unionized may have some support for the economic populism of Edwards. But since their names are not on the ballot, the best they can hope for is for Michigan Democrats to vote “uncommitted,” and for those uncommitted delegates to vote Obama or Edwards.

Joel likes: Forget crossing over; vote your party

Andrew Heller/The Flint Journal

My view: Stay in your party. Vote for Hillary, if you like her. If not, do what Sen. Levin says and vote uncommitted, hoping that the DNC will ultimately seat Michigan delegates at the August primary. Dems can't in good conscience talk about election reform then go out and treat an election like it's a game. But that's just me.