Posted on 03/08/2005 9:39:18 AM PST by KidGlock
In the race? DeVos steps to line
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
By Steven Harmon
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Republican activists are just waiting for Dick DeVos to make his final move on the path to running for governor.
The anticipation ratcheted up a notch after DeVos, the former CEO of Alticor, filed paperwork with the state's election office last week to form an exploratory committee.
"At this point, it's a good sign for all of us," said Gary Granger, a Grand Rapids developer and a close acquaintance of DeVos. "At this point, it tells me he's the front-runner ... that he's probably getting ready to make the next step." DeVos formed the committee -- without naming any members -- mainly to make sure any costs that could be seen as campaign-related are legal, said DeVos' spokesman, Rob Minnard.
But the move also can serve to put a brake on other GOP candidates' hopes to challenge Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
"I know he's getting serious about it," said Peter Secchia, a longtime Republican political leader and former U.S. ambassador to Italy. "Is it a message to scare off others or to emphasize his sincerity? It could be both."
DeVos once before considered a run for a statewide office -- the U.S. Senate, in 1989 when he was 33. A month after setting up an exploratory committee, he abruptly ended his bid, with friends saying he didn't want to get involved in a costly and potentially damaging GOP primary.
DeVos, 49, has been cautious in revealing any intent this time, emphasizing he truly is exploring the idea of a campaign.
"I have watched many politicians over the years say that they are exploring when in fact they have already made a decision," DeVos said in a statement Monday. "That is not the case with me."
But, by forming an exploratory committee, he's not leaving himself much room to back out, said Doug Koopman, Calvin College political science professor and former aide to the late Congressman Paul Henry.
"It's a serious step that can only be interpreted that he wants to run," Koopman said.
Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land's name has cropped up as a potential candidate. She was scheduled to meet with DeVos this week.
If DeVos runs for governor, she would not be a likely primary opponent. And the likelihood of challenging U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow would be diminished, given GOP's interest in running someone from the southeast side of the state.
How much support DeVos can get from Southeast Michigan -- particularly Oakland County, which went for Granholm in 2002 -- is one consideration DeVos is weighing.
"They didn't help Dick Posthumus -- he could have won if he had their support," Secchia said. "That's a risk if Southeast doesn't come on board."
Republicans would be foolhardy to resist a DeVos candidacy, said David DiShaw, the chairman of the 3rd Congressional District.
"If we have a candidate who can self-fund, it takes a lot of pressure off those of us who want to" pour resources into a campaign against Stabenow, DiShaw said.
Dick Posthumus, the 2002 GOP gubernatorial nominee and former state senator from northern Kent County, said he was "80 percent sure" he would run after filing his exploratory papers before that campaign began.
"I don't think Dick's made a final decision yet, but he's getting closer," Posthumus said. "That's what this indicates, that he's very close to making a decision."
DeVos has to take a gut check, Secchia said.
"He has to have the fire in the belly," Secchia said. "And his family has to be ready for public exposure."
DeVos will build a grass roots multilevel organization...the organizational structure will look like a pyramid...but DeVos won't call it that. ;-)
Have you heard the good news?
What'sthe good news?
That if he wins, the entire state will be under the control of the CRC?
Comments?
As much as I'd like to see Granholm sent back to Canada, I think I'll wait for Ted Nugent to run.
DeVos plans to wipe out the state's deficit by selling motivational tapes and seminars.
not too many Devos fans here
I personally would have no problems voting for him. He's a solid conservative who has more than paid his dues politically. Dick and Betsy DeVos have have been willing to take stands and push for causes even when it wasn't always the most popular thing to do.(Vouchers).
Very conservative and well connected.
But we'll have to see if he has the fire in the belly and can overcome the Amway baggage.
I would love to see a strong primary. It would make him a better candidate.
I don't like the ... "If he runs, everybody else is out" mentality.
Same here. The conventional wisdom is that primaries weaken candidates. That's from 94 Governor(dem) and Senator(dem), 96 president(GOP), and 98 Governor. In 94, Engler was unbeatable with Proposal A. Primaries did hurt us in 96 and the dems in 98(Fieger), although when their top candidate was Larry Owen of all people, that doesn't say much.
However, I think the primaries helped Granholm in 02, Bush in 2000, and Kerry in 2004.
On the other hand, no primary race helped Debbie Stabmenow and Mike Rogers in 2000.
So it's a mixed bag. If the candidate is strong, no primary helps. If the candidate isn't tested, I think primaries help.
The number of people who've gotten burned by Amway have to outnumber the ones who've actually prospered by what, 500:1?
I can see it now.
When you apply for welfare, you get $500 of product inventory and three downline members.
After that, you're on your own.
Don't know about Dick, but his old man and Jay both were outstanding people.
that would still be better then welfare don't you think?
But when the real crooks got in and set up their distributorship empires in the '70s and '80s, the founders of the company did nothing to put a stop to it.
Absolutely.
You were the one who wrote "local Republican politics in Michigan revolve around Amway meetings" here on FR at some point in the past, well loosely quoted. How prescient. I laughed so hard I still haven't forgotten it because where I grew up it was almost exactly the same(Avon ladies were in the mix too.)
I don't think that was me. I've never been to an Amway meeting so I couldn't see myself using that one-liner.
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