SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Saturday rallied Democrats to back Hillary Rodham Clinton in Tuesday's presidential primary, even if her main opponents aren't on the ballot.

"There's one candidate who said, 'I'm not going to abandon Michigan and I'm going to keep my name on the ballot as a statement of how I support Michigan.' And that's Senator Clinton," Granholm told more than 125 Clinton supporters crowded inside the Westin hotel.

Barack Obama and John Edwards pulled their names from the Democratic ballot partly to avoid angering Iowa and New Hampshire, which didn't like other states crowding to the front of the election calendar. Some Obama and Edwards supporters have encouraged people to vote for "uncommitted," hoping that will give some national convention delegates to someone other than Clinton.

Granholm questioned that effort.

"Their choice is to be committed for uncommitted? Or to be committed to someone who has stood for us?"

Granholm was joined by Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard, college students and members of two unions that have endorsed Clinton: the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees.

The quirky Democratic ballot is not what many in the party wanted and could cause some confusion among voters. There's also concern that the New York senator could be embarrassed if enough voters choose uncommitted.

The Republican primary, where all the candidates are on the ballot, is getting far more attention with Saturday visits to the state by John McCain, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee.

All the Democratic candidates except Dennis Kucinich were sticking to pledges not to campaign or run ads in Michigan.

Granholm told reporters she's disappointed the candidates aren't in Michigan.

Despite the weakened Democratic primary, Granholm said moving up the election date "changed the dialogue" because candidates now are talking about the economy, an important issue in Michigan but also nationwide.

Stabenow said she wasn't concerned that frustration within Democratic ranks would carry over into the November general election.

"Once we get through the primary, people will very enthusiastically coalesce around a candidate," she said.

Before and after the boisterous, 45-minute rally, Clinton backers said she best understands the issues facing Michigan and will stand up for manufacturing and workers, enforce trade agreements and protect Great Lakes water from diversion to thirsty states.

Xavier Lopez-Ayala, a 20-year-old student at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, said he supports Clinton over Obama and others because of her experience.

"Some of the candidates inspired our imaginations," he said. "But there's really only one candidate that inspired my confidence — not just a readiness to lead, but her ability to tackle the challenges we face."

The lone Democratic candidate to visit Michigan, Kucinich, planned to campaign in Detroit in Saturday, talking about trade before stopping by a union hall. He later planned to talk at a Livonia church.