At the races

More Michigan politics:

1. From Congressional Quarterly:

"Republican Dick DeVos is a vastly wealthy businessman who is challenging Michigan Democratic Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm in her bid for a second term. And he is spending money at a rate unprecedented in Michigan politics — shaking up the contest in the marginally Democratic-leaning state and turning it into an apparent tossup at this point in time.

With both polls and state political analysts indicating that DeVos’ expensive early media blitz is taking its toll on Granholm, CQPolitics.com has changed its Election Forecaster rating on the race from Leans Democratic to No Clear Favorite.

While recent independent surveys conflict on who is leading the race, they nonetheless appear to confirm that DeVos has emerged as a threatening competitor.

A poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports on June 7 showed Granholm with a 44 percent to 42 percent lead over DeVos. But the poll that really turned heads, conducted by Lansing-based EPIC/ MRA in mid-June, showed DeVos with a 48 percent to 40 percent lead over Granholm."

I was wondering if CQ was going to change their rating for this race.

2. This article from the Free Press has some interesting information about DeVos' donations to conservative organizations.

3. From the Free Press: "Republican" Pat Godchaux is asking for Democrat votes to try to win the Republican nomination for the 9th congressional district.

"Republican candidate Patricia (Pan) Godchaux has a message for Oakland County Democrats that sounds convincingly Democratic: If they want to oust the anti-abortion, pro-war, anti-environment, pro-gun, anti-teachers union U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, then vote for her in the Aug. 8 primary.

Godchaux has sent a flyer to registered Democrats in the district asking them what their vote against the Bloomfield Township Republican has gotten them in recent years."

This is what the term RINO means. Senator Lincoln Chafee is quietly doing the same thing.

I wonder how many other "Republicans" are counting on Democrats to help them win their primaries?

4. Kalamazoo County Drain Commissioner Bill French can't be happy with this article from the Kalamazoo Gazette.