SAGINAW COUNTY -- Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero campaigned in the Saginaw Valley Thursday, touring the Nexteer Automotive plant before meeting with supporters at UAW Local 699. He told NBC25 voters are starting to tune into the race.
“Our summers are short. People are really saying, “look the primary is on August 3, let’s see what we’ve got. We are the progressive candidate- the progressive pro-choice, pro-stem cell candidate,” he said.
Bernero’s poll numbers show a gain on rival, House Speaker Andy Dillon in the Democratic contest. A poll released early this week by the Detroit News and WDIV-TV Local 4 has Dillon with 34.3 % compared to 25.1% going to Bernero. Bernero previously had a double-digit deficit in most surveys conducted up through this point. He said the momentum is identical in the internal research conducted by his campaign.
“Our polls show clearly the more people learn about us, the more they come to us. The more they learn about him (Dillon), the more they come to us. This is the Democratic Primary, and I’m the real Democrat in this race,” he said.
On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra met with supporters in Freeland. He is locked in a statistical tie for first place with Attorney General Mike Cox, according to a poll released by WZZM-TV13 in Grand Rapids (26.4% for Cox and 25.6% for Hoekstra.). Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder came in third with 20.2%.
“I think people are looking for somebody who has legislative experience but at the same time has real practical business experience,” Hoekstra said.
Cox has slammed Hoekstra in TV ads for missing key votes on health care reform legislation. On Thursday, Hoekstra missed a close vote on jobless benefit extensions. He said that does not undermine his commitment to his first job.
“I’ve got a 95 percent life long voting record,” he said. “I’m there doing my job.” Hoekstra also made a campaign stop in Frankenmuth with State Rep. Ken Horn, who is up for re-election this year.
Meanwhile, endorsements are coming in for most of the gubernatorial candidates. Dillon received the backing of Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. Snyder picked up the support of former Michigan Governor Bill Milliken. Fourth placed Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard now has the support of “Joe the Plumber”, who became a fixture in the 2008 presidential campaign.
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