Check out John Kerry's impressive Michigan operation:
State Kerry team seeks Granholm's backing
By George Weeks / The Detroit News
As Democratic presidential candidates ratchet up campaigning for Michigan's pivotal 2004 caucuses, the current buzz is: Whither Granholm?
There are intense presidential campaign efforts for coveted endorsements from organized labor and Gov. Jennifer Granholm. She doesn't command as many troops as the unions but has star power that could radiate in a crowed field.
The Teamsters just endorsed Missouri Rep. Richard Gephardt. Some others in the AFL-CIO favor him, but other affiliates -- most notably the United Auto Workers -- await evidence of more prowess than he demonstrated in the past and so far in campaign 2004.
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts has strong support in Michigan's United Food & Commercial Workers locals.
There's an intriguing tug among Granholm disciples. Some urge her to endorse Kerry, as has her husband, Dan Mulhern, and others in her camp.
Among Kerry spear carriers are David Katz, Granholm's 2002 campaign manager, and Jill Alper, who was a strategist for Granholm and now Kerry.
Lt. Gov. John Cherry, whose close ties with labor led to Granholm selecting him as running mate, is said to be among those urging her not to endorse now.
Early in the 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Granholm made an impassioned appeal to delegates at a Democratic State Convention in Detroit to "keep your powder dry" until there was a better fix on who would be the strongest candidate in the general election. So far, she wisely has kept her own powder dry on the 2004 presidential race.
Granholm Press Secretary Liz Boyd says Granholm wants "the candidate who has the best chance of winning" in November.
Democrats in Michigan's congressional delegation say it is far too early to determine who that may be.
The dean of the delegation -- and dean of the Congress -- 24-term Rep. John Dingell of Dearborn, says "Kerry would have real trouble carrying Michigan. ... (He's) hardly been favorable to the auto industry." (Kerry will have a chance to address that issue when he appears before the Economic Club of Detroit Sept. 22. He could note that other Democratic contenders have positions similar to his.)
Who, I asked Dingell, has the best prospect of carrying Michigan for Democrats? He said: "You'll know it when you see it."
I don't see it now. Does Granholm?
Kerry already has enlisted at least a dozen Democratic legislators, including seven African-Americans, announced Wednesday: Sens. Buzz Thomas and Irma Clark-Coleman of Detroit; Detroit Reps. Tupac Hunter, Bill McConico and Mary Waters; and Reps. Paul Condino of Southfield, Chris Kolb of Ann Arbor, Alexander Lipsey of Kalamazoo, Clarence Phillips of Pontiac, Joseph Rivet of Bay City, Dale Sheltrown of Gladwin and Lisa Wojno of Warren.
They may not be able to produce anymore votes than their own. But it's a reflective of Kerry's impressive Michigan operation that it recruited them and seems better geared than other campaigns to trumpet Michigan-specific efforts.
Whomever she endorses, look for Granholm to have a prominent role at the Democratic National Convention. She's foreign-born and ineligible to be on the ticket, but the nominee will want to showcase her.
Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan's longest-serving statewide officeholder, is likely to keep his powder dry at least through this year. He said he might endorse before the Feb. 7 caucuses if the nominee is obvious by then.
Meanwhile, Levin adheres to the quaint notion that Michigan voters should do comparison shopping and hear where the Democratic contenders stand on issues most important to them.
Keep those endorsement's coming!
State Kerry team seeks Granholm's backing
By George Weeks / The Detroit News
As Democratic presidential candidates ratchet up campaigning for Michigan's pivotal 2004 caucuses, the current buzz is: Whither Granholm?
There are intense presidential campaign efforts for coveted endorsements from organized labor and Gov. Jennifer Granholm. She doesn't command as many troops as the unions but has star power that could radiate in a crowed field.
The Teamsters just endorsed Missouri Rep. Richard Gephardt. Some others in the AFL-CIO favor him, but other affiliates -- most notably the United Auto Workers -- await evidence of more prowess than he demonstrated in the past and so far in campaign 2004.
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts has strong support in Michigan's United Food & Commercial Workers locals.
There's an intriguing tug among Granholm disciples. Some urge her to endorse Kerry, as has her husband, Dan Mulhern, and others in her camp.
Among Kerry spear carriers are David Katz, Granholm's 2002 campaign manager, and Jill Alper, who was a strategist for Granholm and now Kerry.
Lt. Gov. John Cherry, whose close ties with labor led to Granholm selecting him as running mate, is said to be among those urging her not to endorse now.
Early in the 2002 gubernatorial campaign, Granholm made an impassioned appeal to delegates at a Democratic State Convention in Detroit to "keep your powder dry" until there was a better fix on who would be the strongest candidate in the general election. So far, she wisely has kept her own powder dry on the 2004 presidential race.
Granholm Press Secretary Liz Boyd says Granholm wants "the candidate who has the best chance of winning" in November.
Democrats in Michigan's congressional delegation say it is far too early to determine who that may be.
The dean of the delegation -- and dean of the Congress -- 24-term Rep. John Dingell of Dearborn, says "Kerry would have real trouble carrying Michigan. ... (He's) hardly been favorable to the auto industry." (Kerry will have a chance to address that issue when he appears before the Economic Club of Detroit Sept. 22. He could note that other Democratic contenders have positions similar to his.)
Who, I asked Dingell, has the best prospect of carrying Michigan for Democrats? He said: "You'll know it when you see it."
I don't see it now. Does Granholm?
Kerry already has enlisted at least a dozen Democratic legislators, including seven African-Americans, announced Wednesday: Sens. Buzz Thomas and Irma Clark-Coleman of Detroit; Detroit Reps. Tupac Hunter, Bill McConico and Mary Waters; and Reps. Paul Condino of Southfield, Chris Kolb of Ann Arbor, Alexander Lipsey of Kalamazoo, Clarence Phillips of Pontiac, Joseph Rivet of Bay City, Dale Sheltrown of Gladwin and Lisa Wojno of Warren.
They may not be able to produce anymore votes than their own. But it's a reflective of Kerry's impressive Michigan operation that it recruited them and seems better geared than other campaigns to trumpet Michigan-specific efforts.
Whomever she endorses, look for Granholm to have a prominent role at the Democratic National Convention. She's foreign-born and ineligible to be on the ticket, but the nominee will want to showcase her.
Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan's longest-serving statewide officeholder, is likely to keep his powder dry at least through this year. He said he might endorse before the Feb. 7 caucuses if the nominee is obvious by then.
Meanwhile, Levin adheres to the quaint notion that Michigan voters should do comparison shopping and hear where the Democratic contenders stand on issues most important to them.
Keep those endorsement's coming!
posted by Pamela J. Leavey at 6:21 PM
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