John Cherry, Denise Ilitch and now Bob Bowman all flirted with seeking the Democratic nomination for governor -- and then said no. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry takes a look at what's really going on.
WANTED: Charismatic, appealing, candidate for governor. Should be able to self-finance cost of campaign, need at least ten million dollars. Need to be able to completely distance yourself from unpopular Granholm administration without criticizing current governor and her policies in any way. Need to be able to convince voters you can straighten out current economic mess, but cannot make any of our big interest groups feel threatened. Apply care of Mark Brewer, Michigan Democratic Party.
The Democrats aren't likely to place a want ad like that, but if they did and they were honest, that's how it might read. And even though Michigan is filled with people looking for jobs these days, the Democrats are having a hard time finding someone who fits that job description. In fact, they are having a hard time finding so-called 'top tier' candidates at all.
I could tell you why, but it's a secret. Okay, well, I guess I can trust you: There's a strong feeling that the Democrats are going to lose, pretty much regardless of whom they nominate. The economy is bad, and people tend to blame the party in power, which, for the last seven years, has been the Democrats.
Democrats have known for a long time that they were going to have trouble this year, but figured they had their sacrificial lamb ready: Lieutenant Gov. John Cherry,In fact, party leaders did their best to shoo other candidates out of the race. Then, last month, Cherry staged a mini-earthquake by pulling out of the race; he said he'd had trouble raising funds.
That left Democrats with only one official candidate. Alma Wheeler Smith, a state rep from Washtenaw County. She is smart, funny, gutsy and attractive, and has a comprehensive and thoughtful tax plan. But the big boys don?t think she can win.And current filing reports show she'd raised less than forty thousand dollars. Since then, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero has gotten onto the race too, but party leaders don't see him as a heavyweight either, especially in the name recognition or money departments.
So, they've been looking desperately and almost pathetically for a savior. They turned to Denise Ilitch, the pizza heiress. She eventually said thanks, but no thank you.Yesterday, Bob Bowman, who had been a very young member of former Governor Blanchard's cabinet, also bowed out.
His excuse was that the six months before the primary isn't long enough to put together a campaign. And the fact that he now lives in Connecticut may have been a tiny factor too.So, the next big question is whether Speaker of the House Andy Dillon will take the plunge. We'll find out soon.
Meanwhile, there's a sense of gloom among Democrats, But Republicans shouldn't get too smug. Two years ago, the only person they could find to run against Carl Levin was a term-limited state senator who had no money and lost by a record margin.
And never forget that you never can tell. Twenty-eight years ago, the only person Democrats in Toledo could find to run for Congress was a graduate student who worked in the Carter White House. But that fall, voters turned against the GOP.Marcy Kaptur won that race, and she's been in Congress ever since. We've got a long way to go this election year.
So stay tuned.
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