(Commentary) The Michigan Pseudo-Primary is now history, and everyone is trying to have it both ways.  As Iowans recall, way back on August 31, when Michigan and Florida broke the Democratic National Committee’s rules and scheduled their primaries in the middle of the time set aside for the official early states, the top six candidates all signed a pledge not to campaign in the rule-breaking “leapfrog” states.

I (name), Democratic Candidate for President, pledge I shall not campaign or participate in any state which schedules a presidential election primary or caucus before Feb. 5, 2008, except for the states of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina, as “campaigning” is defined by rules and regulations of the DNC.

For the most part, the Democratic candidates stayed away from Michigan.  There were no rallies, no pre-planned spontaneous stops in diners with the TV scrum in tow, and thankfully no January field canvassing in the Upper Peninsula.

Most of the Democrats took it a step further by taking their names off the Michigan ballot, which set up Tuesday’s weird shadow race.  Hillary Clinton already had it both ways by leaving her name on the ballot, along with the late lamented Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Des Moines).  There was also Dennis Kucinich (who actually tried to get off the ballot, screwed up the paperwork, then reversed position and said he was “standing up for Michigan”), who’s now reduced (if that’s possible) to suing for debate access and demanding New Hampshire recounts to see if his total climbs from 1.66 percent to 1.68 percent.  Oh, and there was Mike Gravel, who will pretty much do anything to force me to include his name in the goal of completeness.

But Obama and Clinton were drawn like moths to some kind of shadow battle in Michigan. Politicians can’t help it; it’s in the DNA.  The Clinton camp is claiming a victory of sorts, rolling up a majority against Uncommitted, and gleefully adding the Michigan delegates — who still, officially, wink wink, aren’t going to be seated at the national convention — to her tally.  At the same time, they’re criticizing Obama for encouraging a vote for Uncommitted, saying that amounted to