MIRS, Michigan's oldest and most comprehensive newsletter covering the activities of Michigan state government, ran an article which featured the Saginaw County delegation to the Mackinaw GOP Conference.  Following are some excerpts of the fun!

Kathy Dwan joined Saginaw County Republican Party Chair Amy Carland past president Brian Freyon Shepler's Ferry dock shortly after 1:30pm waiting for Carly Fiorina's ferry to come in.  At the end of the dock, more than 200 people crushed together to see the former Hewlett Packard CEO and clear winner of the Wednesday CNN debate step on Mackinac Island for an Emerging Leaders event and a US Representative Candice Miller event before her Grand Hotel speech.  Dwan and Carl gave each other a high five and the crowd chanted, "CARLY, CARLY," as the boat floated in.

MIRS reports that Fiorina was mobbed seemingly everywhere she went on the island, while Kasich, Cruz and Paul also attracted huge crowds.  More than 450 people gathered to listen to Senator Ted Cruz, who also held a couple of donor meetings, conducted two television interviews and took part in a large Grand Hotel porch media scrum.  The longest part of his day may have been at the old Mackinaw Island school, where Cruz seemed to take the time to shake every hand and take every picture with anyone who wanted one. 

Saul ANUZIS, who helped coordinate the appearance, said the day was a chance to motivate the base and see the candidates in person."That matters in this game," Anuzis said. "People want to see them, touch them." 

Possibly no presidential candidate, however, was more active on the island this weekend than Ohio Governor John Kasich, who came in Friday night and stayed for much of Saturday.  Shortly after landing on the island Friday night, Kasich lead a dance at the Gatehouse while Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley played keyboard. Kasich also had dinner at the Sea Biscuit with other Michigan Republican leaders.  

As for Kentucy Senator Rand Paul, his loyal supporters didn't disappoint when it came to greeting him at an event at the Gatehouse or showing up en mass at the MIRS/Detroit News straw poll of conference attendees. Outside of meeting with donors, Paul held a press conference at the Lego store on Main Street. Inside the store, a large Lego village display featured a Lego Building with a "Rand Paul 2016" sign on the top.  Paul noted, "Michigan is a big part of our strategy," he said. "A lot of emphasis is given to the first four primary states, but Michigan is right after that so if you're not prepared to be organized in the states after the first four primaries, you really can't win this race."