Lack of support from Yoopers forced Connie Saltonstall out

[Kaleva]

And considering that Yoopers do elect pro-choice candidates such as State Senator Mike Prusi into office, I'd have to say that Saltonstall's pro-choice views weren't as important as she claims in her stated reason for withdrawing.

What did Saltonstall in was the fact she was a "troll" (a person who lived south of the Makinac Bridge). Yoopers (residents of the Upper Peninsula) tend to stick with their own.

"Saltonstall had visited the Upper Peninsula in recent weeks to meet voters and gauge support. She said she is withdrawing from the race because the Democrats in the U.P. and state party leadership are backing Gary McDowell, D-Rudyard, in the race."

http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/544009.html?nav=5001

With the Upper Peninsula accounting for about half the vote in the district and their tendency to vote for a fellow Yooper, it would have been almost impossible for Saltonstall to defeat McDowell in the primary or defeat a Republican candidate from the U.P. in the general election.

Connie's statement:

"I am forced to do this because it has become apparent to my campaign that the leadership of the Michigan Democratic Party has preemptively anointed Gary McDowell as their Democratic candidate. They are replacing Bart Stupak with another Upper Peninsula, anti-choice, anti-women’s health-care rights candidate."

Had pro-choice State Senator Prusi decided to run, the same thing would have happened to Saltonstall. The Democrats in the Upper Peninsula and the MDP would have rallied behind Prusi because he is a Yooper. One ought to note that ardent anti-choicer State Representative Joel Sheltrown, who, like Connie, is a troll, dropped out of the race earlier this month. Also, pro-choice candidate Matt Gillard, who is also a troll, dropped out the day after Connie did and has since endorsed Gary McDowell.

[bluestateguy]

1. I have heard that Yoopers take their identity very seriously

And in that district, if we are talking strictly about electability, being anti-choice is probably a political plus. Stupak was always reelected easily for every year.

[Kaleva]

2. Connie was in a tough situation

She was unable to gain support from Democrats in the Upper Peninsula which is the more liberal part of the district and she resides and is best known in the southern part of the district in lower Michigan which is more conservative.

[Kaleva]

3. An example of the problem Connie faced in the Upper Peninsula

Pro-choice state representative Steven Linberg who is a Yooper from Marquette (which is the districts largest and most liberal town) endorsed Gary McDowell very early this month before Saltonstall dropped out. If Connie couldn't gain the support of leading pro-choice Yoopers, she didn't stand much of a chance at all.