Democratic Nominee for Governor of Michigan- Rumors and Latest News

In the wake of Lt. Governor John Cherry withdrawing from the race for Governor in Michigan, there are many rumors flying around. Cherry was running for the Democratic nomination, and likely would have won it easily, so his withdrawal has led to an explosion of rumors, and for those of you who don't follow the news that closely, let me help you out by covering a couple of the major rumors.

One of the big rumors is that Cherry withdrew due to pressure from the White House. The basis of this is that Obama interfered in the off-year Governor elections and lately his advisers have been visiting Michigan and meeting with people. It was rumored that Obama did not like Cherry and feared that voters would soundly reject Cherry's policies and platforms, which are exactly the same as Obama's, and that might look bad. So Obama through Cherry under the bus. Obama, Cherry, and Governor Granholm (D) all deny this, saying that even though there is a lot of smoke here, there is no fire. Sure.

Cherry's withdrawal means that the Democratic nomination for Governor is now wide open. The best of the bunch is Michigan Speaker of the House Andy Dillon. Even though I campaigned for his (unsuccessful) recall several years ago due to his role in raising taxes on Michigan residents by over 30% in the midst of a brutal recession caused by rising tax rates, I think he got the message, and since that time has been a voice of moderation and sensibility. I still don't trust him completely- when push comes to shove will he really cut the pay and benefits of government employees or will he do the usual Democrat thing and raise taxes on everyone else- but at least he makes noise about balancing the budget and appears to be a moderate. His healthcare plan was a better attempt than what the national Democrats did and last budget cycle he cut spending rather than raise taxes, so there is some good in what he does.

Could Dillon get the nomination? Dillon, who is a 48-year-old attorney and is in his final term in the House, will most likely be opposed by organized labor, the teachers union, government employees, and other traditional Democratic groups because of his support of reforming the healthcare system in Michigan and because he cuts spending instead of raising taxes last budget cycle. As a moderate, he probably won't make it through the liberal primaries of the Democratic party. Robert Kolt, a Democratic-leaning public relations consultant based in Okemos, said "I'd say it's 10-1 against him winning the nomination."

There is a rumor that US Rep. Gary Peters (D) could run or that US Senator Debbie Stabmenow could run, but both of them deny those rumors, and that's too bad. I wish they'd run, and then lose in a landslide. They are very bad Congressmen, passing legislation that damages their constituents and hurts their districts- Peters even voted for the cap-and-tax bill that would destroy manufacturing even though his district's biggest employers are auto companies! They won't run though- they know they got a good scam going working in the US Congress, where you can destroy a nation and yet be re-elected (although I have high hopes that Peters can be taken down by recently-returned military veteran and former state representative Rocky Raczkowski).

The name of Detroit Pistons general manager Joe Dumars has also been advanced as a possible outside-the-box nominee. Dumars would never win the nomination for Governor, mainly because he drafted Darko Milicic with the 2nd pick overall in 2003 draft. Darko ended up being a bust and Dumars passed on other great talents like Carmelo Anthony or Chris Bosh, and because of that pick, Dumars can't be Governor of Michigan.

Detroit businesswoman and University of Michigan regent Denise Ilitch's name has also been thrown out as a possible outside-the-box nominee. The wife of Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch, who also is the owner of Little Caesar's Pizza, she probably couldn't win the election for Governor either in Michigan. Michigan elected the first female Governor in the history of our state with Granholm, and voters will now (unfairly) think twice about electing another female to that high office. That is too bad because there are a lot of great women candidates out there (Teri Lynn Land and Candice Miller come to mind), but I bet that enough voters will be sexist and want a guy for office that a woman couldn't win the position.

Other names in the mix Wednesday included U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak of Menominee and former Genesee County Treasurer Dan Kildee, who said he's considering a run. Kildee heads a national land-use nonprofit organization and is the nephew of U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint.