Independents are a huge factor in Michigan, and the reason why I think John McCain will win there next week. The Democratic primary is non-existent this year. When Michigan ignored the Democratic National Committee and moved up its primary date to January, the DNC punished it by taking away its 156 delegates from the convention.  The only names on the Democratic ballot will be Hillary Clinton and Chris Dodd. Barack Obama is not even contesting there. Like New Hampshire, Michigan allows its registered independents to vote in either primary. That means they go to McCain (who won the state in 2000 in part due to an independent vote) in what would otherwise be a tight race for GOP voters among McCain, Huckabee, and Romney.