Posted on 08/09/2002 2:17:55 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Capitol rallies kick off campaigns in earnest
Granholm backers, detractors sound off on issues Thursday
By Chris Andrews
Lansing State Journal
The Democrats chanted "J.G. for G.O.V."
Republicans countered with "We need a leader, not a lawyer."
Thursday's dueling Capitol rallies - separated by a pair of blue Jennifer Granholm banners - were a clear sign that the general election is in full swing, and that every action will be met with a counteraction between now and Nov. 5.
"The future starts now, and we're going to take back this Capitol in November," said U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, who introduced Granholm. "This is a new day, and the people of Michigan deserve better, and we're going to make it happen."
Granholm won the Democratic nomination for governor on Tuesday and will face Republican Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, Green Party candidate Doug Campbell and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Joseph Pilchak in the general election.
The winner will succeed Gov. John Engler, who can't seek re-election because of term limits.
Governors serve four-year terms. The salary is $177,000 a year.
Granholm, who handily defeated former Gov. James Blanchard and U.S. Rep. David Bonior in the primary, urged her supporters to rev up again for the fall campaign.
"Today is where the real grind starts," she told about 200 supporters Thursday. "We need more of whatever you've got."
East Lansing's Bob Horvath was among rally volunteers. He said he appreciated Granholm's honesty and ability to relate to people.
"She's very bright and creative, and she's got leadership," said Horvath, a retired state employee. "She makes people want to follow."
The Republican group gathered outside Lansing City Hall before crossing Michigan Avenue near the Capitol and the Granholm rally.
Some carried signs saying "Say no to Granholm" and "Jenni = Hillary," a reference to New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"I want to ensure that the people of Michigan get the full picture," said Victor Diaz, a House Republican staffer who took part in the anti-Granholm rally. "Jennifer is coming in with very little to offer."
This was all done on short notice here. I got a call about an hour before the event asking me to go down there and protest. I went down there, got my sign that says "School Board Election, Please Vote, Jenny Doesn't", and went to the capitol. There was about 100 people there.
We drowned out her first big speech there, stole part of the show with the Lansing State Journal and even Michigan Public Radio(from what I've heard).
This is going to take a ground war to win. We need to make sure that Grandstand is facing opposition every step of the way until November.
Granholm got about 150 or so at her press conference. The counter on short notice had 100.
LET'S GET IT ON!
The counter on short notice had 100.
This is going to take a ground war to win.
It should be an interesting 90 days. Here's to a good start.
The scary part is that she DOES look like Hillary! I really had no idea what this woman was like in person (except some Michiganders thought she was "hot") until I read an article by some liberal Chicago Sun-Times columnist gushing that 2002 would be "The Second Year of the Woman" election. At the bottom of the article was a photo of Granholm rallying supporters at a speech. One thought came to mind immediately: Hillary!
Check out the photo of her framed into the state of Michigan (it's on the opening page of her website). The resemblance is creepy.
Even creepier is that Granholm is apprently leading Posthumeous by double-digit numbers (just like Rod "no one can pronounce my last name" Blah-go-$hit is leading Jim Ryan). Have the soccer mommies lost their minds? Usually ultra-lefties in the midwest will lose statewide unless the GOP puts up an unknown joke. If the numbers hold 'til November, the new "leadership" will look like New England's.
Somebody stop these people!
Most of those polls are "EPIC" polls. Ed Saurpolis(sp) is a dem pollster.
Posthumus has trouble since he's unknown. If enough people know who he is before the election, then we have a shot.(Think Engler in 1990, Stabusall in 2000) It has to be an ISSUES race though in order for us to pull it off. The superficial bulls**t favors Granholm. The issues favor Posthumus. Guns, abortion(split), taxes, reperations, blue collar background, trial lawyers. That's in our corner.
That's just wrong. I've seen what the picture looks like....
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