Cook said Cherry would benefit from primary competition, and there's no reason to believe he won't have it.True, all of that. Depends on whether or not the Legislature crashes the state government into the wall again on the budget this year - which should make all of them MUD when it comes to running for higher office. When you throw in the fiasco that was 2007 on top of what is shaping up to be the nightmare of 2009 -Republican, Democrat, doesn't matter, careers can and maybe should be destroyed if they take this to another threatened shutdown.
"Well, we are going to find out," Cook said. "Rep. Alma Wheeler SMITH (D-Salem Twp.) has been out on the stump for a while -- everything seems to point at Speaker Andy DILLON (D-Redford Twp.) getting in around Labor Day or so and even though he hasn't officially announced, John FREEMAN's been building a grassroots network and hustling around the state building on his previous work on minimum wage and healthcare ballot proposals.
"I think that, in general, primaries can be helpful to the winning candidate," Cook added. "Primaries force candidates to work their party base and get their team in 'campaign shape.' A primary didn't hurt Granholm's ability to win in 2002 and more recently President Barack OBAMA came off a bruising presidential primary none the worse for wear in his race against John McCAIN."
I basically like Andy - he's just too conservative (and secretive) for my tastes. I believe his heart is in the right place though. Lt. Gov slot maybe? I can't see him winning a Democratic primary now that the machine is lining up behind Cherry - but for all the reasons above, it might be good to add his voice to the mix.