Michigan bucks McCain

The Hill reports Michigan Republicans want to bar Democrats and independents from the GOP’s 2008 presidential primary — a step that would present a major hurdle for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), should he decide to run for the White House in 2008. In 2000, McCain’s campaign against then-Gov. George W. Bush gained momentum after he won the Michigan primary by appealing to voters outside the GOP. Should McCain run, Michigan would be a critical component of his strategy to win the Republican presidential nomination. That strategy, as described by Marshall Wittmann, a former spokesman for McCain’s presidential campaign, entails winning “Northern and Western tier” states to compensate for losses in more conservative bastions in Iowa and the South. Limiting participation in the Michigan GOP primary would almost certainly compromise McCain’s plans. In 2000, Bush won 66 percent of the Republican vote, compared to 29 percent for McCain, according to an exit poll conducted by CNN. By contrast, 82 percent of the Democrats who voted in the primary backed McCain, versus 10 percent for Bush.... “Caucuses would be best for the most conservative candidates,” a Michigan Republican with ties to party officials said. “A convention would be next. Open primary would be the least desirable.”

I dont know how they would know what party a person is a member of. In the Voter Registration Form (PDF File) in Michigan there is no provision for listing party affiliation (as there is in many other states). Oklahoma, for example, has closed primaries, but even there you can change your party affiliation if you want to vote in the other party's primary. As this says: "You may not change your political affiliation during the period from June 1 through August 31, inclusive, in any even-numbered year. The last day on which you may change your political affiliation before the closed period is May 31; the first day on which you may change your political affiliation after the closed period is September 1." Since the primaries are usually held in July and August, you may have to make up your mind a month or two ahead of the primary, but there is nothing to prevent you from doing so.