Clinton Remains, 5 Democrats Out of Michigan Primary

Five Democratic candidates have withdrawn from Michigan's Jan. 15 presidential primary, leaving what amounts to a beauty contest for front-runner Hillary Clinton and a handful of lesser-knowns.

Barack Obama, John Edwards and Bill Richardson filed paperwork Tuesday, the deadline to withdraw from the ballot, said Kelly Chesney, spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State's office. Two other candidates, Joe Biden and Dennis Kucinich, said in statements that they also were bypassing the primary. Although Michigan is a critical Midwest state in presidential voting, it violated Democratic National Committee rules by moving its primary earlier in the process. The candidates are honoring the DNC's wishes in skipping the contest. All the Democratic candidates already have agreed not to campaign in Michigan because it broke DNC rules when it moved its primary ahead of Feb. 5. Party rules say states cannot hold their 2008 primary contests before Feb. 5, except for Iowa on Jan. 14, Nevada on Jan. 19, New Hampshire on Jan. 22 and South Carolina on Jan. 29. The calendar was designed to preserve the traditional role that Iowa and New Hampshire have played in selecting the nominee, while adding two states with more racial and geographic diversity to influential early slots. Clinton advisers acknowledged party leaders in Iowa and New Hampshire might be irked by her refusal to pull out of Michigan. But removing her name from the ballot would be a needless insult to the state's voters _ one that could prove damaging in the general election, the advisers said. Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis said the decision by the Democrats just opens Michigan to more campaigning by Republicans hoping to win the state and its electoral votes.