Dems pull out of Michigan

This just in: Most of the leading Democratic candidates for president haved pulled out of the Michigan primary, further complicating a presidential primary process riven by disputes over whether Iowa and New Hampshire should retain their first-in-the-nation privilege.

Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, and Joseph Biden have all filed papers with the secretary of state's office today indicating they will not be on the primary ballot Jan. 15. "They've asked us to take their name off the primary ballot," said Kelly Chesney, a spokeswoman for the Michigan secretary of state's office.

Leading candidates had already agreed not to campaign there because Michigan broke Democratic National Committee rules by moving their primary ahead of Feb. 5. It's unclear exactly what the significance of today's decision will be.

No word yet from Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

UPDATE: Clinton will stay in the Michigan primary, her campaign says. Chris Dodd has announced that he, too, will remain on the Michigan ballot.