Michigan Weighs Moving Primaries To Mid-January

"Democrats agreed to an early primary that will make Michigan extremely relevant in the presidential nominating process," said Liz Boyd, a spokeswoman for Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm (D). "We're very anxious that candidates come to Michigan and tell us their positions on these issues."

Republicans in the state have said they, too, are eager to vote earlier and will agree to whatever day the Democrats choose.

"I have to tell you, I agree with Senator Levin on this one," the party's chairman, Saulius "Saul" Anuzis, wrote on the party's official blog this weekend.

In a statement posted on the Web site, he wrote: "Although going on January 15th is not our first choice, we will join with the Democrats and hold our primary on the same day. This puts Michigan front and center in the presidential battle ground."

Jason Moon, a spokesman for the Michigan Democratic Party, said the "two party chairs are in negotiation" now over the date.

The results of those negotiations could be known by tomorrow, when two bills focused on the primary calendar are due to be considered in the state Senate. The bills would set the primary date on Jan. 29 or Feb. 5, but they are likely to be amended to reflect agreement about Jan. 15, sources said.

State Sen. Michelle McManus (R), the sponsor of one of those bills, said she thinks her party is eager to vote earlier.

"For us to raise our state's profile in the national arena and to encourage participation throughout . . . we need to be in the mix," McManus said. "There's a lot of candidates out there on both sides. I certainly believe that the next president needs to share the concerns of our state."