State GOP votes for closed primary for the presidency

Only Michigan’s registered Republicans will be able to vote in the GOP’s 2012 presidential primary election now that the Michigan Republican Party’s State Committee has voted to close the primary for next year’s presidential campaign.

“(The Saturday, Aug. 13) vote by our State Committee was the culmination of months of communication between our grassroots activists, policy committee members, statewide GOP supporters, and everyone with an interest in ensuring that Michigan sends a Republican president to the White House in 2012,” said Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak.

The move comes after months of discussions, according to GOP officials. In May, the party’s Policy Committee did research and culled opinions on the preferred primary process, and on July 12, the committee unanimously recommended that the State Committee adopt a closed primary, which it did earlier this month in a 92-17 vote.

The GOP presidential primary in Michigan, under state law, will be held between Feb. 28, 2012 and March 6, 2012. If the state Legislature doesn’t act to determine a date, the primary will, by default, be held on Feb. 28, 2012.

A host of Republicans have entered the race to challenge President Barack Obama, among them U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Waterford, White Lake, Highland, Milford, Commerce, Wolverine Lake, Walled, Wixom), who recently took third-place in the New Hampshire Young Republicans Straw Poll.

After the recent Ames, Iowa Straw Poll that was claimed by Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, she, as well as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, are considered the front runners in the GOP race by members of the national media.

Jim Thienel, chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party, couldn’t be reached for comment prior to press time.