"LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Four Democratic candidates have withdrawn from Michigan's Jan. 15 presidential primary, leaving what amounts to a beauty contest for front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton and a handful of lesser-knowns.

"Barack Obama, John Edwards and Bill Richardson filed paperwork Tuesday, the deadline to withdraw from the ballot, said Kelly Chesney, spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State's office. A fourth candidate, Joe Biden, said in a statement that he was bypassing Michigan's primary." More here. Chris Dodd also is bypassing Michigan's primary, but not withdrawing his name from the ballot.

In Florida the situation is a bit different from Michigan. Legislative Democratic leaders Steve Geller and Dan Gelber, and state Democratic Chair Karen Thurman, are the deciders for putting the candidates' names on the 1/29 ballot. They're submitting the names for the ballot later this month. The candidates can choose to have their names removed from the Fl primary ballot, but, unlike Michigan, they would have to submit an affadavit stating they are no longer running for president.

"If they wish to take their names off the ballot it's fine with me. The actions that I have seen from the DNC indicate they don't care if they carry Florida in the general election anyway,'' said Geller, who expects to file a lawsuit in Broward circuit court next week against the the four states who demanded a pledge from the candidates.