Hillary's Problem In Michigan: 'Uncommitted' Could Beat Her In Dem Primary

CINCINNANTI (TDB) -- A political science professor who is one of the national go-to guys about state politics in neighboring Michigan says Hillary Clinton faces a serious hurdle in Tuesday's Democratic primary: Voters have the option of choosing "uncommitted."

Stewart L. French notes that Clinton is the only big name on the Dem ballot, and 'uncommitted' could prove attractive to supporters of Barack Obama, John Edwards and even Al Gore. French, of Saginaw Valley State University, told the Michigan Messenger that he thinks Clinton needs more than 60% of Tuesday's vote to crow she is a winner. If it is a lesser total, he thinks she gets written off as not being able to trounce a field that didn't even bother to campaign.

"God knows what is going to happen on the Democratic side. If she gets 60%, everyone will shrug and say of course she won, she was the only one on the ballot." According to the story: "The worst case scenario for Clinton would be if 'uncommitted' wins. Edwards and Obama could use that to cast doubt on Clinton's candidacy going forward."

Will Ohio's Cities Catch The Wave? Investors Now Snapping Up Homes In Detroit

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Hamilton County officials are projecting that 6,200 foreclosure cases -- with large numbers of the volume in Cincinnati -- will be filed this year. It's a gloomy statistic that is mirrored across Ohio . But there could be some bright days coming after the storm. The foreclosure crisis has created a red hot real estate market in Detroit, where existing home sales are sizzling.

Residential sales are up 4% percent over November 2006 in the Motor City, and Crain's Detroit Business reports "November's numbers continued the hot streak for the city, which saw residential sales increase month-over-month for eight months in 2007." In the wealthy suburbs like Oakland County, sales are down by as much as 15%.

Detroit? It was supposed to be dead, worse off than Cleveland and Cincinnati, or any of its other Midwestern manufacturing sisters like Toledo and Akron. But there are people who see opportunity, value and deals in the market.

"The increase is attributable to a combination of demand from young, urban pioneers and out-of-town investors, said Darralyn Bowers, president of Southfield-based ERA Bowers and Associates, which does a majority of its sales in Detroit. She said data indicates a high level of cash buyers, meaning a lot of the sales are by people investing in residential real estate. 'We may not appreciate what an opportunity Detroit property is right now, but some people are. When this passes, we'll see tremendous fortunes made.'

Michigan Beats Ohio: State Ranking Of 2007 Small Business Survivability

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Small Business Survivability Index ranks Ohio No. 29 among the 50 states. Michigan is No. 6. The list was just published by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. H/T Michigan Messenger.