Carson City Democrats

Yesterday, Governor Richardson sent a letter to the State of Michigan, requesting his name be taken off the primary ballot. It was a move to emphasize his belief in the importance of the early decision states, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and most important to us, Nevada.

Today, three other candidates followed suit and pulled out of the Michigan Primary. Read the story here.

Nevada was chosen as an early caucus state because of our diversity, union presence, and the new importance of the West as a battleground. Michigan decided to break the rules established by the Democratic National Committee and scheduled their primary ahead of the Nevada Caucus's original January date - threatening Nevada's new significance in the selection process. By pulling his name off the Michigan ballot, Richardson is helping to protect Nevada's new importance. It should be no surprise that Richardson was first to fight for Nevada; while other campaigns have moved staff out of the state, he hired more staff and he continues to make meaningful visits the state often.

This should lead Nevadans to question those candidates (Clinton, Dodd, Kucinich, and Gravel) who remain on the Michigan ballot. Do they really value the new importance of Nevada and the traditional importance of the other official early states?