First Look at Second Spot

July 2, 2010

Next time you bump into one of the guys running for governor, ask him about his running mate. And then duck.

Inquiring about the second spot on the ticket is like talking to somebody pitching a no-hitter. It is best left alone.

Candidates are loath to discuss the issue because it might jinx their chances to win the nomination. “First things first” is the typical dodge.

But don’t kid yourself, the issue is discussed in private. And while no screening committees have been formed, you can bet the lieutenant governor thing does come up from time to time.

In fact, in the Rick Snyder brain trust it has come up — and one major decision has already been nailed. A source familiar with the Ann Arbor businessman’s thinking reveals a strong indication that he will select a former legislator for his second in command.

Much like Jennifer Granholm, who brought little legislative savvy to the table when she first ran for governor, Snyder, the self-avowed political outsider, would be well served to pick someone who has been there and done that in the Capitol.

With a spanking new state Senate with 30 new members and at least 55 newcomers to the Michigan House, the Snyder administration, if there is one, needs a John Cherry, who, of course, Granholm picked because of his impressive legislative resume.

Since it is highly unlikely that Snyder would ask, and even less likely that Cherry would accept, where does the Nerd turn for that experience he lacks?

On that front there is no intel to share except for these names that have probably been floated inside the Snyder inner circle.

Two they could consider are currently GOP candidates for secretary of state: Sen. Cameron Brown from Southwest Michigan and Sen. Michelle McManus from up north. Either would be available after losing the nomination.

Sen. Jason Allen, who from time to time has flirted with lt. governor, could be a contender if his bid for Congress falls flat.

You’d have to toss in former Sen. Joe Schwarz, who now considers himself an independent; former House Speaker Paul Hillegonds; and even Senate GOP leader Mike Bishop, who may also be courted by Pete Hoekstra, another Republican seeking the governor’s job. Or how about West Michigan former lawmaker and budget director Don Gilmer?

And somebody mentioned former Senate GOP leader Dan DeGrow as a guy who could fill the bill.

When informed that his name would show up in this column, DeGrow literally laughed out loud.

“I’ve never met the man,” DeGrow began his graceful rejection of maybe running with Snyder.

He did note that “out of respect” for the office, “I would always listen,” and quickly launched into a laundry list of why he would not jump at the chance.

“I like what I’m doing,” he opened. Running the Intermediate School District in St. Clair County allows him to be 15 minutes from home, he is getting stuff done on the education front and, to boot, “I’ve moved on.”

Yet DeGrow is the prototype Snyder needs, i.e. 22 years combined service in the House and Senate and a finely honed bipartisan philosophy so desperately needed in this town.

“You never say never,” he confesses, but as you read this he wants you to know: “I’m not lobbying for it.”

And at this point, neither is anybody else. But if the candidates tell you the running mate thing is not on the radar screen, check to see if their noses are growing.

Tim Skubick is Michigan’s Senior Capitol correspondent and has anchored the weekly public TV series “Off the Record” since 1972. He also covers the Capitol and politics for WLNS-TV6 in Lansing.

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Vanilla or Chocolate?
Vanilla or chocolate? Baseball or football? Tennis or golf?

You can bet your bottom dollar the two Democrats running for governor had never been asked to pick one or the other. And when they did, you could tell that Virg Bernero and Andy Dillon really don’t have much in common.

Thanks to Frank Beckmann over at WJR for asking them. He also inquired as to the most influential person in their political and personal lives. Again, a 180 difference.

Bernero selected the women in his life: his aunt Betty, who runs the Waterford Township clerk’s office, gets credit for turning him into the politician he is today; and on the personal side, his mom and his wife get the nod.

Dillon felt his father had shaped him the most on both counts. The House speaker says Judge Dillon had “discipline and compassion” and a good balance of both.

Even more differences emerged as the radio interview went on.

What did you want to be as a kid?

Bernero, like many, wanted to be a cop and then later on “maybe president.” No sense shooting too low.

Dillon was more cerebral as a kid, hoping to land a job as a businessman, work in government and finance. “I’ve done them all,” he told Beckmann.

The radio guy asked about practicing in front of a mirror to prepare for a political assignment. Dillon said no and tacked on, “I probably should have done more of that.”

And what would you change about yourself?

Bernero has said this before: “I always strive to be more diplomatic…I can ruffle some feathers.” He’s got that right.

And Dillon blurted out, “get out of government.”

What?

Maybe he was joking, maybe he wasn’t thinking, but the answer was probably spot on. He really does not like politics that much, and almost never got into it, and here he is running for governor.

It was a telling answer, and it leaves some wondering if he’d be crushed if he lost. Bernero, who has wanted to do this all his life, probably would be.

As for the questions in the first sentence…Bernero is vanilla, baseball and tennis. And, you guessed it, Dillon is chocolate, football and golf.

Two peas in a pod, these guys ain’t.

Name Names
It’s a straightforward inquiry, but you should have seen them squirm.

Can you list all the candidates running for governor?

Out on the rubber chicken circuit, the audience is asked to write down all those names and, time and time again, the bulk can’t name all seven.

In fact, you are probably thinking right now, could I?

With the August 3 primary inching closer, it’s probably about time that you got in the game and at least get to know the names of the candidates. The next assignment is to find out who they are and what they stand for. But first things first.

At a recent conference, 39 attendees were asked to list the names. You could hear the moaning and groaning as they struggled.

And they should have been embarrassed, because one of the basic precepts of participating in the democracy is to at least know the names of those who are running.

Ten-percent could only name one candidate, and each time it was Rick Snyder. TV advertising does have its advantages.

Six of the participants could list four of the candidates. Mike Cox was known by all of the six. Pete Hoekstra got five, as did Snyder. Mike Bouchard received four. Democrat Andy Dillon checked in with three, and his opponent, Virg Bernero, got one. Tom George got zero.

Oakland County Senator Mike Bishop got one, but he’s not running for governor. Major points off for that.

Thirty-three percent turned out to be well informed, as they remembered all seven names. In most groups, the number is less.

But here’s the sorry conclusion to all this: the overwhelming majority of voters won’t bother to learn the names, because the overwhelming majority won’t vote on August 3 anyway.

If the state is lucky, under one million “citizens” will show up at the polls. That means about five million others will head for the beach, the ballpark or work and not even feel guilty about sitting this one out.

If you told those folks they will lose their right to vote if they don’t use it, they’d go nuts.

It’s not a bad idea.