"Operation Hilarity" was the code name for an insurgency that aimed to alter the results of the Republican primary in Michigan; Democrats were encouraged to vote in the primary for Rick Santorum.
It's not that they like Santorum. Certainly the last thing they want is a Santorum presidency. "He's the best chance of Michigan to get Barack Obama elected," said Dawn Gallup, an enthusiastic "Hilarity" operative.
Hum. So, in their minds, a vote for Santorum helps the President. Got it.
So how effective were they?
This is the odd part. Exit polls indicate that 10-percent of voters in the Republican primary in Michigan were democrats, but only about half voted for Santorum. The rest presumably splitting their vote among the other three candidates in the race.
Democrats failed to hand Romney an embarrassing loss in his home state because they split their vote.
Remember, Romney only won by 3%
