Posted on 10/03/2006 8:39:48 AM PDT by outfield
EAST LANSING - Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Republican challenger Dick DeVos jostled over jobs and taxes, stem cell research and public safety in the first of three televised debates.
With the election barely five weeks away, the 60-minute showdown offered voters clear contrasts as they focus on who should lead the state for the next four years. Polls show it is a very close race.
DeVos offered Michigan's highest-in-the-nation jobless rate as evidence of the need for change.
"The atmosphere is clearly not here for job creation. That's why we need leadership," he said.
Granholm said the state has set in motion an aggressive strategy to better educate students, train workers and invest in new industries that won't be outsourced.
"I am a governor who's going to fight for everyday citizens," she said.
"The atmosphere is clearly not here for job creation. That's why we need leadership," he said.
Granholm said the state has set in motion an aggressive strategy to better educate students, train workers and invest in new industries that won't be outsourced.
"I am a governor who's going to fight for everyday citizens," she said.
No gaffes
There were no gaffes or zingers Monday night likely to find their way into Michigan political folklore. But political analyst Craig Ruff said Granholm succeeded in keeping DeVos on the defensive throughout the debate, which is unusual for challengers.
"Granholm controlled and commanded the facts, the flow and the agenda of the debate," Ruff said. "DeVos was on defense, whether it was trade agreements or national lobbying or corporate nursing-home ownership."
Lansing pollster Ed Sarpolus said Granholm provided weak answers in blaming former Gov. John Engler for many of the state's problems. He said DeVos hurt himself by lacking specifics.
"He kept dancing around every issue. He didn't answer the questions," Sarpolus said.
In reading the initial analysis, it seems to favor Granholm. However, there are 2 more debates and plenty of time left in the race.
Let's remember that Granholm is a graduate of Harvard and a lawyer while Devos has been around business all his life. He may not speak the way that sounds so dignified/or slick-but he is still a far better choice for change if the economy in Michigan is to turn around and provide jobs for the so-called better educated work force Granholm tries to tell us she is preparing. By the way, is there any real proof regarding the efficacy of her "education plan"? She tries to tell voters that she has provided money for retraining, etc--would that be money only for the UAW people? I know plenty of people who have lost jobs and have not seen one red penny for their retraining!
Devos should smile less, attack more, and answer the question at some point in his response. He has everything going for him and the election is his to lose. He did nothing in the debate to help himself but may have cause some doubts. Hope he is good at revising and sharpening strategy. Probably is since he is a successful businessman.
Devos should attack Granholm by demanding that she provide proof of her job creation--ask her why she waited almost 2 and a half years to do anything about job loss in Michigan--like admitting that it was happening while she is on the job and not blaming Bush every week! Devos needs to point out the fact that Michigan is suffereing economically while other states are seeing improvement-why? Devos needs to deal with the education environment-regardless of what the teachers will say or do. The fact is this: This silly governor signed a bill hoping to create a better educated work force for a non-existent job market that requires more things to graduate. Well, please tell me how that is going to happen when the same instructors are left in classrooms who are not doing the job now? Devos needs to stop worrying about image and come out fighting-attacking-appear like a regular guy with the gloves off--an every day guy.
The unfortunate thing is this: how many educated voters watched the debates? Democratic voters in Detroit probably did not--in my opinion--it won't matter what Devos says to Southeast Michigan anyways. The real issue is getting the rest of Michigan voters to hear--you do that by creating a real stir-something the liberal media outlets can't ignore--Devos can do that by really going after Granholm at roots level-make her answer the questions. His company is doing well-how about hers?
however only gov. grandcracker has proven she really is one.
I was not impressed with DeVos in this respect. He let Granholm control the debate and was forced to defend his outsourcing of jobs to China etc.
He's gonna have to step it up big time in the next one before people cement their opinions of him.
I agree.
I totally agree. He looked so flat during the first half of the debate although did turn it on a little bit the last twenty minutes or so. He has to do a much better job the next two debates. Elections aren't won in a debate but the can certainly be lost.
Yep. All the ads in the world won't save him from getting chumped in the debates, and last night he didn't exactly put on a stellar performance.
"Lansing pollster Ed Sarpolus said Granholm provided weak answers in blaming former Gov. John Engler for many of the state's problems."
She's a one trick pony. This is exactly the approach she's used throughout her term, and it isn't wearing thin, it was so thin to start with it only had one side. This useless do-nothing-but-raise-taxes carpetbagger has to go.
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