Michigan DUers: Why is Jennifer Granholm in so much trouble?

[Bleacher Creature]

Four years ago she was being touted as the next Democratic superstar. People were complaining that she could never run for President as she was born in Canada. So why am I constantly coming across polls showing her in an uphill battle for re-election. I honestly don't know, so any info would be much appreciated.

[butterfly77]

1. Repugs control everything ...

in michigan and washington

[IdaBriggs]

2. The guy running against her has a lot of money and all he has to do is say

"We need a change." Michigan Democrats haven't tied him to Bush AT ALL, and probably won't. (Insert my opinion here: IDIOTS!!!)

She's been a good governor who is still cleaning up the mess the Republicans have made of things, but its been up hill because she has a Republican House and Senate. The press coverage she gets has been abysmal. Take a look at the Michigan forum if you want more details.

:shrug:

[rox63]

3. Her opponent is an extreme right-winger

named DeVos. He's the son of the guy who founded Amway.

[Pathwalker]

4. DeVos has spent MILLIONS blaming her for the Bush

economy here in Michigan. The man outsources many of HIS jobs to China, which hasn't been mentioned yet, and the economy SUCKS in Michigan, with GM and Ford closing down plants all over the state. Plus, Fox and NBC have merged their coverage on local stations, so our local news show Faux reporters for all their political coverage. And Tim Skubick(our local Limbaugh wannabe) had been everywhere trashing her, on TV and in print.

[butterfly77]

5. The media is on devoss's side and will help him..

Devos can use the fact about jobs knowing that most will look to the head of the state, not realizing that those in lansing are being difficult

[herbbrown]

6. She's a Grandstander

Always has been, sure Engler sent the State to Hell but she's done little to clean it up...And now Dick (The Devil) Devos is trying to buy the election, I'll push hard for her because of the alternative, but she's done little, she's a part of a big political machine and now shes getting out spent, somtimes between the Dem and the Repugnants you don't care for either, this is one of those times.

[MichiganVote]

10. Well I can think of several important things G. has done for the

people of Michigan. Altho' our republican press refuses to point it out, the "Cool cities" has had a positive effect. G. maintained funding for Michigan schools, including colleges, against all odds and certainly the whiney republicans in Lansing. She has insisted that the republican plan to do away with the single business tax include how to replace that revenue. Have the cock sure republicans come up with a plan? No. Are they stupid? Yes.

G. did put in place a med. plan for seniors and has been seeking ways in which to put together a helath plan for Michigan citizens. She protected kids in the state by refusing to siphon off funds from Medicaid. Something the republicans are dying to do.

No, her admin. is not perfect but when you have a republican legislation that sits on their ass in Lansing bitchin' about G. and not doing anything, what can anyone expect? At least she has placed competent people in office, unlike certain presidents we know.

[Robbien]

7. Another point is Granholm hasn't really started to campaign yet

Devos has been spreading money all around the state for the last two months while Granholm kept saying it was too early to start campaigning.

Ignoring a problem doesn't make it go away.

[PeaceProgProsp]

8. If Granholm spends money now, she won't have any when

it gets close to election day.

Look at CA -- Angelides had much less money than Westly, so Angelides went completely off the air for about 6 weeks so that he'd have the money to advertise in the last couple weeks.

It worked. He won.

Granholm is faced with exactly the same problem.

[Robbien]

9. I agree, but that doesn't change the picture as it stands right now

Devos is ahead now because he is spending money now, a lot of it.

If Granholm spends her money wisely at the end then things can work out.

[Strawman]

11. Because she's an incumbent and MI is hurting economically

Is it her fault? No. And with a GOP legislature she is poweless to do anything other than block and moderate their initatives to sell out working people to the highest bidders.

Add to that a well-orchestrated multi-million dollar early ad campaign by Devos during high ratings sports events, and you've got your answer. Apparently she is "keeping her powder dry" and doesn't have as much powder as Devos does.

All Devos needs to do is look like a credible alternative instead of the fundie Amway kook he is and he will probably win. His ads have helped him accomplish that. Now that he's in the race he can just lie and make false promises that people will want to believe. The long term prospects in the MI auto industry look grim and the economic news during Granholm's term has been consistently bad. She will unfairly be blamed for that because that's just how it works. MI has always been one of those ticket splitting swing states and voters won't experience any cognitive dissonance simultaneously blaming Bush and Granholm for the economy. The only difference is that they can't vote against Bush again this year.

[Hidden Stillness]

12. I Believe She is Still Popular; And I Hope

Well, I hope I'm not just refusing to face facts or anything, but I do not believe she is in any real trouble. I put this current atmosphere down to the fact that only DeVos is running ads on TV regularly yet--Granholm has not really started--they are getting the typical early free-ride from the Republican-owned media, and as the incumbent, Granholm gets blamed for things the Republican State Legislature actually caused, or Bush's deregulated economy caused. I don't think it will last. I think once the campaign really starts, Granholm will answer these things that DeVos has been hiding, etc., the media will give some real coverage to DeVos's background and opinions, and DeVos will have to answer real questions from reporters, not just put on uncontested TV ads. I have not heard of a move against Granholm, but then I am in a Democratic area.

[Faygo Kid]

13. Poor staff work, Amway billions against her, DeVos undefined

And admittedly, Michigan's economy. Gov. Granholm is ill-served by her staff; I see a blinders mentality like Blanchard's staff when he was upset by Engler. Dick DeVos is one of the richest people in America; running these warm and fuzzy ads is a smokescreen. He is a far right elitist whose wife, Betsy, is former chair of the GOP in Michigan and downright scary (Michigan's economic troubles caused by workers making too much in wages - this from a woman born a millionaire who married a billionaire). No questions from the media to DeVos about his attitudes on social issues (far right). No mention in his ads that DeVos is a Republican. If I were her, I would go negative now on him. She simply can't keep up financially with a billionaire; I see him going negative on her soon to redefine her. Spend some money now to define this guy, break for the summer on spending money and come back in the fall.

[bleedingheart]

14. How will DeVos with his freaky rhetoric play in Eastern Michigan

near Detroit?

My husband grew up in and around the DeVos social circles and a lot of people thought his old man was a jerkoff and that Dick and Betsey are just spoiled ninnies.

[Faygo Kid]

15. No freaky rhetoric yet. Just a massive ad campaign about jobs.

By the way, no mention of Amway or him shipping jobs to China. I would go after him; like all GOPers, he is getting a free pass from the media.
Eastern side of the state learning about him from those ads.