Michigan Court OKs Jan. 15 Primary

LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan's Jan. 15 presidential primary can go forward, the state Supreme Court decided Wednesday, keeping alive the state's bid to be one of the 2008 campaign's first contests.

The court decision should make it easier for New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner to schedule that state's primary, which New Hampshire law requires to be the nation's first. Gardner has been waiting to see what the Michigan courts would do.

The high court's decision should clear the way for the Republican and Democratic parties to take part in the Jan. 15 primary. Both have already filed letters with the secretary of state saying that's their plan.

However, by holding its primary so early _ in violation of the national parties' rules _ Michigan stands to lose half of its delegates to the Republican National Convention, reducing the number to 30, and all of its 156 delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Read more here.

Yesterday, New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner announced that there was no chance of a January 15 NH Primary.
UPDATE: He is scheduled to announce the NH Primary date today at 3:30 pm.

After hearing the case last week, the Michigan Court of Appeals ultimately ruled against the primary date, at which point the state appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court.