Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm's counterattacking offensive against well-funded Republican challenger Dick DeVos hasn't affected the race, according to Thomas Bray of RealClearPolitics:
With the help of $15 million or so in advertising, much of it fueled by his personal fortune, Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos is in a statistical dead heat with incumbent Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm in the polls.
Success for DeVos, however, may depend on keeping the spotlight on Granholm's economic record - or lack of it. She remains personally popular with a substantial majority of Michigan voters. But her reelect numbers are running below 50 percent, reflecting a widespread feeling that she hasn't achieved much of consequence despite the state's dire circumstances.Last week DeVos went off-message, asserting to an Associated Press reporter asserting that local school boards should be allowed to order that "intelligent design" be taught in the classroom. That might shore up his conservative, western Michigan base, but it could provide grist for opponents eager to portray any Republican as some sort of religious nut who caters to right-wing extremists.
The good news for DeVos is that Granholm's effort to play the class warfare card appears to have flopped.
Read the rest at the link above. Michigan is one of the best opportunities for a Republican pick-up in gubernatorial races this year, most of which don't look good for the GOP.
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Gubernatorial Races, Michigan
Comments (2)
I totally object to the "$1... (Below threshold)1. Posted by The Disembodied Head of Dick Devos | September 28, 2006 6:58 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I totally object to the "$15 million or so" Jim.
Dick Devos has spent $30 million and I don't appreciate you making him look like a two-bit piker. The Devos campaign will BURY Michigan in a pile of money!
1. Posted by The Disembodied Head of Dick Devos | September 28, 2006 6:58 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2006 06:58
2. Posted by Interrobanger | September 28, 2006 11:07 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Wait, so DeVos outspends Granholm by a factor of a zillion to one, and he's not ahead in the polls, and this is a good sign? Sorry, I don't see it. He's bought himself name recognition, but that only goes so far. The fact is even in his hometown of Grand Rapids, where the press reflects his exalted glory because of all the money his family (but not him) have put into the area, he's still not doing that well. And all that money came from Amway, better known as Scamway. That company is currently being sued for illegal practices, while DeVos also has hundreds of millions invested in a shady nursing home.
So it's not about class warfare. It's about DeVos being a lousy businessman.
2. Posted by Interrobanger | September 28, 2006 11:07 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 28, 2006 11:07