Steve Kornacki, news editor of Salon, has this column in the August 14 New York Post. It says that the presidential election of 2012 has much in common with the past presidential elections of 1980 and 1992, two elections in which voters were unusually interested in a presidential campaign outside of the two major parties.

On August 13, the Michigan Republican Party state committee decided to use a presidential primary in 2012 to choose delegates to the national convention, instead of a caucus. The primary will probably be held on February 28. See this story. The February 28 date is not in accordance with the national Republican Party’s rules. Thanks to Thomas Jones for the link.

Tom Ramstack, a reporter for the Washington Times, has written this interesting story about the lawsuit Igartua v U.S.A. This is the case on whether Puerto Rico should have voting representatives in Congress. As noted earlier, on August 4, 2011, the First Circuit had denied a rehearing by a tie vote, 3-3. Ramstack believes that the Puerto Rico government, and the individual voter-plaintiff, are certain to appeal this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. He also explains why he believes that the U.S. Supreme Court may hear this case. Specifically, he believes that Justice Sonia Sotomayor will be very interested in this case, and that perhaps she can persuade her fellow justices to take an interest in the case. The U.S. Supreme Court in the past has always declined to hear any voting rights case involving U.S. citizens who live in a territory or commonwealth.