***ALL-POLITICS TUESDAY***

The MICHIGAN Primary

The STATE of The STATE

The DEMOCRATS Debate

A full-plate of politics this super-duper Tuesday begins early, as voters head to the polls in Michigan as you read this.

The Republican primary in Michigan will be laser-focused on the economy, which has been crippled by an auto industry wrestling with rising healthcare costs. The favorite son seems to be Mitt Romney, who was born there, grew up there, and had a father who served three-terms as Governor there. The pundits will tell you it is do-or-die for him, but it's really not, as even he, has vowed to go on. "I sure don't have to win Michigan," Romney told ABC News. "I can win other states."

But the polls are close, and could be unreliable -- because many of their samples haven't included a significant amount of independent and Democratic voters, who could crossover to anoint John McCain the new undisputed frontrunner of a splintered Republican field. If voters decide general electability trumps all, look for a McCain win.

Then again, the forecast in Michigan today is light snow. Nothing like a blizzard. But speculation is the white stuff could help Romney, by depressing turnout among late-deciders who may be breaking against the wounded Romney and the resurgent McCain. Absentee ballots look to favor Romney.

Here's the rest of the super-charged political docket today . . . (Set your watch) . . .

2:30 p.m. Members of the Southwest Center for Independent Living will hold a news conference in Springfield to pre-empt Gov. Matt Blunt's State of the State. The focus: the Medicaid cuts.
7:02 p.m. Gov. Matt Blunt will deliver his 4th State of the State address. It's expected to last about an hour. (We can always hope he talks fast.)
8:00 p.m. Attorney General and Democratic candidate for Governor will deliver the Democratic response to the State of the State. And the 2008 race for Governor will officially be underway.
8:00 p.m. Polls in Michigan close statewide.
8:00 p.m. The Democratic candidates for president (yes, Dennis Kucinich too!) debate in Las Vegas on MSNBC with the big dogs, Brian Williams and Tim Russert.
8-9 p.m. The Associated Press and major networks project a winner of the G.O.P. Michigan Primary
10 p.m. KY3 News @ 10 reports on the results of the Michigan primary and the State of the State address, including a feature on a ***special panel*** we are assembling to watch the Governor's address and react to it.

***If YOU are interested in participating in our special panel that will watch the Governor's State of the State address live at KY3 Studios Tuesday night at 7 p.m., you can e-mail me at dcatanese@ky3.com. We're looking for diverse views to react in real time. If you are a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, independent --- or anything else ---drop me a line. The small group of seats is limited.