Q: What's at stake in the Michigan primary?

A: Not much. Michigan's state parties broke national party rules by moving the primary, so it has been stripped of delegates by the national parties. The Republicans will be electing 30 delegates, the Democrats 0.

File (ENLARGE)

Michigan has 3,288 miles of shoreline, more than any state except Alaska. Above, the Mackinac Bridge.

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Q: Who's on the ballot?

A: All Republican presidential candidates are on the ballot. Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel are the Democratic choices.

Q: How does this affect the voters?

A: Supporters can cast an "uncommitted" vote for Barack Obama or John Edwards, who removed their names from the ballot because of the primary controversy.

Q: Why was the primary moved up?

A: Michigan Sen. Carl Levin supported the move as a way to make the large state play a more important role than the demographically smaller states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

Q: Will Michigan voters have any voice in selecting a presidential nominee?

A: Both state parties say that they will regain delegates at the national conventions. Levin maintains that Michigan's 156 Democratic delegates will be seated at the National Convention in August. National party rules require Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada to hold the earliest primaries. Seating the delegates would allow states like Michigan and Florida to challenge and change those rules.

Q: Has Michigan always had a primary?

A: Michigan has a long history of changing its rules for presidential primaries. In 2003, the legislature voted to suspend the 2004 primary.

Q: How does Michigan compare to other states?

A: It is the eighth most populous state, with 10,071,822 people and has a 7.4 per cent unemployment rate, the highest in the United States.

2004 PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS

John Kerry 51 percent, George W. Bush, 48 percent

ELECTORAL VOTES: 17

MICHIGAN QUICK FACTS:

— Trying to diversify its economy and shed Rust Belt image, but remains closely tied to the struggling auto industry.

— November unemployment rate of 7.4 percent was highest nationally and more than 50 percent above the national average.

— Second in the nation in home mortgage delinquencies and third in foreclosure inventory in the third quarter of 2007, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

— Nation's top producer of tart cherries. Also among national leaders for prepared cereals, machine tools, refrigerators and furniture.

— Has 11,000 inland lakes, 36,000 streams and is the only state adjoining four of the five Great Lakes.