My polling station in a Republican-leaning Detroit suburb this morning was getting a healthy turnout. State-wide, however, election officials are expecting 1.5 million — just 20 percent of eligible voters — due to the inconsequence of the Democratic primary. In 2000, when McCain defeated Bush, state turnout was a primary record 1.4 million with just one party ticket at stake.

I had to declare my preference for a Democrat or Republican ballot — a first in this state that has traditionally held open Republican primaries. Some analysts are questioning whether party declaration (will die-hard unionists dare utter the dreaded R-word?) will deter Democratic crossover voters who voted overwhelmingly for McCain in 2000, putting him over the top despite Bush’s clear lead among Republicans.