Lesson from the Michigan governors' race: Act like a Democrat and the base will support you

[marmar]

from the Detroit Free Press:



LANSING – The Democratic campaign for governor has taken a sharp turn, with Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero leaping to an eight-point lead over House Speaker Andy Dillon, according to a new Detroit Free Press-WXYZ/Channel 7 poll.

Bernero’s 40% to 32% advantage over Dillon leaves a sizeable number — 28% — of undecided voters a week before Tuesday’s primary.

Bernero’s support surged 16 points since EPIC-MRA’s last poll in June. Bernero has an even larger lead — 12 percentage points — among those who say they’re most likely to vote.

The poll suggests that an aggressive, pro-Bernero, anti-Dillon TV ad campaign underwritten by large labor unions and run through the Genesee County Democratic Committee has moved many undecided voters into Bernero’s camp, said EPIC/MRA’s Bernie Porn, who conducted the poll of 400 likely voters. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.

The Democratic committee has spent more than $1 million on the ads. The committee does not have to disclose donors.

....(snip)....

Bernero is winning over two key Democratic constituencies — those with union ties and those who support abortion rights.

People like Hal Downs, 56, a Livonia teacher interviewed for the poll, helped Bernero to his lead.

“Dillon appears to represent Republican Party ideals,” Downs said. “Virg Bernero would not be my first choice. Between the two, he’s the one who deserves the title Democrat.” ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freep.com/article/20100728/NEWS15/100728046/1318/Poll-Bernero-jumps-ahead-of-Dillon

[jobycom]

1. Be happy you live in a state where there is a base to support Democrats.

In most states I hang out in (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi), the base isn't big enough. You act like a Democrat, and you can start writing your memoirs. That's why the few Democrats who win here aren't very liberal. Gene Taylor and Mary Landrieu aren't the best, but when real Democrats run, they get sent home. It's a different world.

[butterfly77]

3. Oh,how I can't stand..

these two. I saw Gene Taylor during the healthcare debate on cspan having a town hall and he was promising the repubs he knew in the audience that he wouldn't vote for the public option or single payer. He is just as bad as Haley Barbour..

[jobycom]

7. No, he isn't as bad as Haley Barbour.

He's just the most liberal they are going to get from his district. Most of my friends still live there. I talk to them on Facebook. They believe that Obama caused the oil spill, that he is a Nazi communist for supporting any type of health care reform, that evolution should not be taught in schools because it undermines God's message, and that gay marriage is a mortal sin they would rather die than allow.

And every one of my friends from there has a college degree and is amongst the most educated and liberal in that district.

That's what people from up north don't understand. Gene Taylor is a flaming liberal for that district. The other guy is always much, much worse.

[butterfly77]

2. He has four votes..

from my immediate family that I know of..We believe Andy Dillion is another Bluedog/RepubliCON and he will not be working for the people.

[xchrom]

4. Recommend

[MannyGoldstein]

5. +6.02e23

Go Dems!

[blue_onyx]

6. I was starting to get worried....

but looks like Bernero can win. He has my vote.

[rpannier]

8. Off topic but...

said EPIC/MRA’s Bernie Porn,

I'd consider changing my name if I was him
And NO, I don't mean changing Bernie

[knitter4democracy]

9. I'm voting for him. He's a real Dem.

Dillon's been a wishy-washy dink. He hasn't done anything while in the House to help out the governor, and he's just a DLC Dem (like too darn many at the top). What we need is a guy like Virg: a guy who tells it like it is, fights like hell, and always has Michigan's best interests at heart. He's a union guy, has good ideas, and is approachable, from what I hear, and we desperately need all of that and more for our next governor.