No Democratic candidates file paperwork to accept write-in votes

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN, AP Political Writer

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jan 4, 2008 at 6:47 PM EST

Story Updated: Jan 4, 2008 at 6:47 PM EST

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — No write-in votes for presidential candidates in the Jan. 15 primary will be counted, secretary of state officials said Friday.

Candidates had until 4 p.m. Friday to file a form indicating they would accept write-in votes. Secretary of state spokeswoman Kelly Chesney said none did.

All of the Republican candidates still in the race are on the state's GOP ballot.

But Democrats John Edwards, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson and Joe Biden took their names off the Michigan ballot to satisfy Iowa and New Hampshire, which were unhappy Michigan was challenging their leadoff status on the primary calendar. That leaves only Hillary Rodham Clinton, Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel and Christopher Dodd.

Dodd's name will remain on the ballot even though he dropped out of the race after Thursday's Iowa caucuses. Biden also dropped out Thursday.

Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer on Friday urged Democrats to vote in their own primary and to vote for "Uncommitted" if they didn't have a favorite on the ballot.

"For the supporters of ... John Edwards, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson, I recommend that you vote uncommitted. If you vote uncommitted, and "Uncommitted" receives sufficient votes, delegates will be sent to the national convention who will be free to vote for whichever candidate they like, including one of those four," Brewer said in a video posted on YouTube.

Although Clinton is expected to easily win Michigan's Democratic primary, her campaign could lose some of its luster if enough Michigan Democrats vote "Uncommitted," showing a lack of support for her candidacy.

Conversely, a win here may not help her much because her main rivals aren't on the ballot. Kucinich is the only candidate so far who has indicated he will campaign in Michigan before the primary election.

The Michigan AFL-CIO, which has not endorsed a candidate, said in a Friday release that Obama and Edwards may have made a tactical error by not competing in Michigan's primary.

"The organization has reminded its affiliates that it was the decision of the Obama and Edwards campaigns to remove themselves from Michigan's ballot. Both campaigns may now regret this decision," the union organization said.

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