This is a primary year where many states held their contests in January, thus providing many opportunites to test a campaign's competency. Paul called it correctly to note IA and NH's diminished status in this election year. The other factor to consider is FL and many of the Super Tuesday states are not winner take all, meaning Paul can pick up lots of delegates by picking his spots in FL, CA et al, which is what really matters in the long run.
If the best you will likely do is 3rd in a race the media is not really covering, where you believe your opponnents are UNwisely bleeding money over to win, when there is another state that you COULD do very well in, why not pass over Michigan? I repeat, the story of Michigan will likely be Paul's strong showing in a contest he DIDN'T prematurely pour resources into.