LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Democrats who support a Jan. 15 presidential primary say they've got the votes on the party's executive committee to defeat any efforts to switch the date or hold a caucus instead.

The test could come tonight, when the committee meets at party headquarters in Lansing to vote on whether national convention delegates should be awarded based on the primary or through some other method.

"The votes are there" to stick with the Jan. 15 primary, Democratic National Committeewoman Debbie Dingell said yesterday.

Dingell and U.S. Sen. Carl Levin of Detroit, both members of the state party's executive committee, were instrumental in making Michigan one of the early primary states, along with Iowa and New Hampshire.

The meeting's results will be closely monitored in New Hampshire, where Secretary of State William Gardner said last week that his announcement of a New Hampshire primary date depends on what the Michigan Democrats decide tonight.

Michigan Democratic Chairman Mark Brewer and state GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis have until Nov. 14 to notify the Michigan secretary of state if they're going to stick with the primary to pick their national convention delegates or go with another method.

Brewer said even with tonight's vote, it's possible something could change by Nov. 14.

"This is the last scheduled meeting before the 14th," he said, emphasizing the word "scheduled." He added that "we can met by phone under the rules" any time between now and then.

That remark caused Gardner to consider waiting a bit longer before announcing the New Hampshire primary date.

"It hasn't come down to anything like this before," he said yesterday.

One other factor that could complicate the issue is a lawsuit to be heard today in Ingham County Circuit Court.

Political consultant Mark Grebner and several others plan to ask a judge to keep Michigan's presidential primary from going forward until issues are resolved over who will have access to information showing which voters asked for GOP ballots and which took Democratic ones. No public record will be kept, but the state political parties will be given that information, which Grebner wants.

The Jan. 15 primary has brought Michigan more attention from GOP presidential candidates, so state Republicans are happy with it. But some Michigan Democrats want to dump it in favor of caucuses for a variety of reasons.

Levin, for instance, has suggested holding Democratic party caucuses in Michigan on the same day as the New Hampshire primary, and wants to remain flexible as long as possible so Michigan can react after New Hampshire sets its date.

But he also has acknowledged Michigan probably won't hold a caucus because Gov. Jennifer Granholm backs the Jan. 15 primary, as do many other prominent Michigan Democrats.

Still, some Democrats think it would be better to honor DNC rules requiring most states -- including Michigan -- to hold presidential contests on or after Feb. 5.

Presidential candidates Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson and Joe Biden withdrew from the Michigan ballot last month to honor those rules, leaving only Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel on the ballot.

Dingell said she understands the frustrations of those who won't be able to vote for their favorite in the primary, adding she'd like to figure out a way to require the four who've withdrawn to put their names back on the ballot.

"I'm still struggling to figure out if there's a way to make that happen," she said.

But she said it's clear that Democratic candidates -- all of whom have pledged not to campaign in Michigan if goes ahead with the January primary -- wouldn't have time to campaign in Michigan even if the election was held on Feb. 5.

She said they're too busy visiting Iowa, which plans to hold its caucuses Jan. 3, and New Hampshire, which is unlikely to hold its primary any later than Jan. 8.