Politically, Michigan's in Swing of Things

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-adna-michigan2nov02,1,2829922.story?coll=la-home-leftrail

One year from today, Americans will go to the polls to decide whether President Bush gets a second term. If the election is close, as both sides expect, the reason may be people like Steven Freers.

The burly 54-year-old attorney is a Republican who has long seen Democrats as "the party of government giveaways." But right now, he is lukewarm toward Bush and open to voting for one of his Democratic rivals — even though they are largely a mystery to him at this point.

Freers worries about the situation in Iraq. He also frets about the economy — never mind the robust numbers now coming out of Washington — as bills pile up from his delinquent clients.

"I'd like to see a more focused program on improving the economy, improving foreign relations," Freers says before heading into a supermarket on a recent chilly afternoon. "When we spend all this money overseas, we should get more for it than we do."

[JNelson6563]

1. Michigan looks bad for Bush

Real bad. Like his Daddy he's got economic problems but unlike him, Jr's got a big "post-war" mess in Iraq. Add to the the subsequent domestic problems popping up because of the Iraq debacle and Voila! Michigan's 17 electoral votes go in the Dem column.

Julie

[jiacinto]

2. Oakland and Macomb County

Bush needs 60%+ of the vote there to win. Those counties have been gravitating toward the Democrats.

[Iverson]

3. not quite, but close

Historically, Oakland County was a lock for Republicans. Today it is a tossup. A simple majority is the meaningful difference there.

Macomb County is much closer to being the decisive swing county in Michigan.

Also, voter turnout in Wayne County (which includes Detroit) is always crucially important for Democrats. A low voter turnout in that one county can sink Democrats across the ticket in Michigan, regardless of Oakland and Macomb.

edited title

[jiacinto]

4. But Oakland and Macob supported Clinton and Gore

Granholm prevailed in Oakland but not Macomb.

[Malva Zebrina]

5. Interesting how he focuses

on getting something for your money and it should be a return as his bills pile up--glad to see him questioning the idiot he voted for, but don't these people who are convinced that Democrats are the give away party, ever think about the plight of other human beings who may be in need for things like--health care! How about the cost of prescriptions for poor seniors? One gets a better return from their money when they are concerned about other human beings who ultimately do contribute to their life--those bills that are piling up--maybe it is because those who owe those bills need to spend too much on their health care--besides losing a job. I will never understand the conservative frame of mind.

[On the Road]

6. The Arab Swing Vote Will Swing the Other Way in 2004

Bush has lost the Arab vote, and Michigan has one of the highest percentages in the country. It will be a big effect in 2004. Arab Americans tend to be educated and vote.

[bleedingheart]

7. Bush's favorite stopping point in MI is Grand Rapids

home to the scAmway families...big supporters of W.

However they have had loads of problems... major layoffs at banks, Steelcase, and a number of other firms have made a few of them rethink their vote for the idiot in chief...

[noonwitch]

8. W. Michigan always votes repub

I grew up there. As long as the democratic candidate is pro-choice, the dutch and the religious fanatics will vote GOP. We always had a republican congressman, state rep/senator and mayor. US senators are statewide elections, and in my lifetime, have been mostly dems, except that one term by Spence Abraham.
Bush is forever stopping in GR. It's one place where he won't get too many hecklers. He's not likely to show up in Detroit anywhere but at the Detroit Economic Club. Otherwise, he does Dearborn or Oakland county.