Primary fever hits U.S. Midwest states

DETROIT, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Labor Day traditionally marks the start of the campaign season but in Iowa, Michigan and other early presidential primary states the race is already under way.

Because this is the first time in years that both parties have open fields, presidential contenders are already hard at work building foundations for their 2008 campaigns, The New York Times reports.

Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner traveled to Detroit Thursday to campaign for fellow Democrat Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm, who is seeking re-election in a state with the second-largest number of early primary delegates.

That same day, GOP hopeful Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts announced the formation of a 75-member Michigan Steering Committee.

Last week nine presidential hopefuls were in Iowa while a former state GOP chairman squired Sen. John McCain of Arizona around the Iowa State Fair after signing on as McCain's Iowa adviser, the Times said.

South Carolina, another important early primary state, has had visits from a slew of former and current governors and mayors, all hoping to test the presidential waters in 2008.