Since last fall, Great Lakes governors, congressmen, mayors and state legislators have been driving home the message that the eight states are significant to anyone running for president. Why? Well, for starters we hold captive 141 electoral votes and five potential swing states. But the Great Lakes states shouldn’t be shirked in the frenzy to secure the party nomination as they play a pivotal role in the early days as well.
Together, the Great Lakes states offer 53 percent of the delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination and 35 percent of those needed to become the Republican nominee. On Super Tuesday, one of the Republican hopefuls could garner as much as 31 percent of the votes he needs to obtain the nomination from Illinois, Minnesota and New York – the three Great Lakes states holding a primary that day. So, if presidential aspirant and Arizona Sen. John McCain wins all 282 delegates available in the three states he would be well on his way to the 919 delegates up for grabs that day pushing him up to 371 from his current standing. Mitt Romney, McCain’s closest competition would be bumped up to 309 delegates with a win across all three states.
As for the Democrats, the three primary states offer 33 percent of the vote on February 5. Great Lakes primary states offer 554 of the 1,688 available on Tuesday and those votes would push New York Sen. Hillary Clinton’s total delegates to 575 and Illinois Senator Barack Obama’s to 588. Obviously, every delegate matters in such a contested race.
It appears the Great Lakes states have much to offer these presidential hopefuls. All we ask in return is that they promise to restore the Great Lakes and ban water diversions–points driven home in recent months by political leaders of the Great Lakes states. To date, McCain, Clinton and Obama have pledged to follow through and use the highest office in the land to restore 95 percent of this nation’s surface fresh water. Keep the promise in mind when you pick your party’s nominee.
Related posts:
- From Super Tuesday to Toledo the Race Is On
- We Want a Committment to Save the Lakes and We Want it Now!
- Nowhere To Go But Up
- As Great Lakes Governors Throw Down the Gauntlet, Which Presidential Candidate Will Respond?
- McCain Signs Pledge, State Houses Demand Others Follow Suit