With the Michigan Democratic primary having been neutered by the DNC due to the state’s cutting in line, there are various ideas floating around about what Michigander Democrats should do on primary day.
Yesterday, I wrote about calls for Michigan Dems to come out anyway and vote “Uncommitted” if they wished to support Obama or Edwards (who withdrew from the ballot).
Then, we have the idea that Kos is floating:
In 1972, Republican voters in Michigan decided to make a little mischief, crossing over to vote in the open Democratic primary and voting for segregationist Democrat George Wallace, seriously embarrassing the state’s Democrats. In fact, a third of the voters (PDF) in the Democratic primary were Republican crossover votes. In 1988, Republican voters again crossed over, helping Jesse Jackson win the Democratic primary, helping rack up big margins for Jackson in Republican precincts. (Michigan Republicans can clearly be counted on to practice the worst of racial politics.) In 1998, Republicans helped Jack Kevorkian’s lawyer — quack Geoffrey Feiger — win his Democratic primary, thus guaranteeing their hold on the governor’s mansion that year.
With a history of meddling in our primaries, why don’t we try and return the favor. Next Tuesday, January 15th, Michigan will hold its primary. Michigan Democrats should vote for Mitt Romney, because if Mitt wins, Democrats win. How so? [...]
[P]oor Mitt Romney, who’s suffered back-to-back losses in the last week, desperately needs to win Michigan in order to keep his campaign afloat. Bottom line, if Romney loses Michigan, he’s out. If he wins, he stays in.
It’s evil. I like it. 
Seriously, I do see a downside here — encouraging such sabotage will make it more difficult for folks like me, who advocate open primaries (assuming they’re operated by the regular state election mechanism).
It would be far more appropriate for Dems choosing not to follow the “uncommitted” path to vote for the “least of the evils” on the GOP side — a kind of “if I have to have one of these jokers for President, here’s who I’d chose” vote.
And, if you were going to cross party lines to cast a strategic vote, wouldn’t you want to vote for the candidate it’s easiest for your guy/gal to beat? In that case, wouldn’t a vote for Huckabee be the most strategic choice? (Presumably his evangelistic Christian stance would make it easier for secular moderates to be wooed over to the D column….)