AP
Detroit businesswoman Denise Ilitch opted out of the governor's race Wednesday and former state Treasurer Bob Bowman took a step toward jumping into a Democratic contest rife with uncertainty.
After four weeks of taking a serious look at running for governor, Ilitch bailed out of the contest, saying she didn't have enough time to prepare for a strong bid. But she left open the possibility of joining the Democratic ticket as a candidate for another statewide office.
After four weeks of taking a serious look at running for governor, Ilitch bailed out of the contest, saying she didn't have enough time to prepare for a strong bid. But she left open the possibility of joining the Democratic ticket as a candidate for another statewide office.
Meanwhile, Bowman was preparing to file papers to form an exploratory committee to run for governor, according to a spokesman.
"Bob Bowman has received very positive and encouraging feedback the last couple of weeks and is preparing to make an official announcement soon," said Bob Kolt, an Okemos-based public relations consultant.
Bowman was treasurer under former Gov. James Blanchard from 1983-90. He heads up Major League Baseball's interactive media division and lives in Connecticut, but has a house in Harbor Springs.
Bill Rustem, president of the Lansing-based Public Sector Consultants Inc. public policy think tank, said Ilitch's announcement makes it more likely that a candidate such as Bowman, House Speaker Andy Dillon or someone whose name hasn't yet surfaced will climb into the race.
"There's no runaway leader in this race," he said.
Ilitch was the leading Democratic candidate in recent polling, based mainly on name identification, according to pollsters.
"This takes away the ad hoc front-runner," said Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics newsletter. "Right now we have two what I think most people believe are second-tier candidates in the field and waiting for Godot."
Ilitch's decision leaves state Rep. Alma Smith of Salem Township and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero as the only announced Democrats in the race. Dillon also has formed an exploratory committee and is expected to announce his candidacy soon. Former Genesee County Treasurer Dan Kildee also is considering a bid.
Five Republicans are running for governor: Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Attorney General Mike Cox, state Sen. Tom George of Kalamazoo, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland and Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder.
Waiting game
National Democrats also are playing a waiting game in the wake of Ilitch's exit.
The White House and the Democratic Governors Association has interviewed potential Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidates but haven't backed one, and both appear to be waiting for a strong candidate to emerge before deciding how to help.
Ilitch said in a teleconference call with the media she needed six or eight months "at least for planning prior to hitting the ground running" and setting up a grassroots campaign. She had only a month to prepare, after presumptive frontrunner Lt. Gov. John Cherry decided not to run. She said the compressed time frame likely will be a challenge for other Democratic candidates. The primary election is less than six months away, on Aug. 3.
"Being an outsider, I felt I started from scratch," Ilitch said.
Pollster Bernie Porn, whose survey earlier this month had Ilitch as the only Democrat with double-digit support among voters at 23 percent, questioned whether Ilitch had the credentials to run for governor.
"She's familiar with education issues as a regent at the University of Michigan," Porn said. "But does she have much experience that would lend itself to managing state government?"
Ilitch, 54, is an attorney, a jewelry designer and magazine publisher. She's former president of her family's pizza and entertainment empire.
She said she hasn't been asked by party officials to run for another office such as lieutenant governor or attorney general, but said, "I will always keep any opportunities for helping Michiganders open."
She did not announce an endorsement of any other candidate, saying only she'll support the eventual Democratic nominee.
'Not a layup for either party'
Asked whether the Democratic candidate needs to be able to self-fund a campaign, Ilitch said anyone who runs needs to rely mainly on citizens and vested interests for funding. Bowman, who took with him $35 million in stock options when he left his job as chief of ITT Corp. according to published reports, is seen as a candidate who could at least jump-start a gubernatorial bid with his own money.
The conventional wisdom that says 2010 likely will be a bad year for Democrats did not weigh into Ilitch's decision, she said.
"The research and homework I've done ... doesn't support that conclusion. This is a Democratic state," she said, adding the race "is not a layup for either party."
John Tramontana, spokesman for the Michigan Democratic Party, said about Ilitch: "We feel she would have been a great candidate for the Democratic Party and for Michigan. Unfortunately, voters will not get to learn more about her and her campaign. But we respect her decision."
Ilitch said "it was very humbling and exciting" when President Barack Obama stopped by a meeting she had with White House officials last month. She said she and Obama "talked about Michigan's future."
In a prepared statement released Wednesday, Ilitch said: "Through a methodical planning process, I saw that the message, resources and many key endorsements would be there, but concluded that the compressed election year calendar would not allow me to run the kind of campaign for governor I believe Michigan needs at this time. And that stubborn fact is the one and only reason why I am not running for governor today.
"Though I will not run for this office now, I will keep the door open to other opportunities, as I believe that public service is the highest calling."
"Bob Bowman has received very positive and encouraging feedback the last couple of weeks and is preparing to make an official announcement soon," said Bob Kolt, an Okemos-based public relations consultant.
Bowman was treasurer under former Gov. James Blanchard from 1983-90. He heads up Major League Baseball's interactive media division and lives in Connecticut, but has a house in Harbor Springs.
Bill Rustem, president of the Lansing-based Public Sector Consultants Inc. public policy think tank, said Ilitch's announcement makes it more likely that a candidate such as Bowman, House Speaker Andy Dillon or someone whose name hasn't yet surfaced will climb into the race.
"There's no runaway leader in this race," he said.
Ilitch was the leading Democratic candidate in recent polling, based mainly on name identification, according to pollsters.
"This takes away the ad hoc front-runner," said Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics newsletter. "Right now we have two what I think most people believe are second-tier candidates in the field and waiting for Godot."
Ilitch's decision leaves state Rep. Alma Smith of Salem Township and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero as the only announced Democrats in the race. Dillon also has formed an exploratory committee and is expected to announce his candidacy soon. Former Genesee County Treasurer Dan Kildee also is considering a bid.
Five Republicans are running for governor: Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Attorney General Mike Cox, state Sen. Tom George of Kalamazoo, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland and Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder.
Waiting game
National Democrats also are playing a waiting game in the wake of Ilitch's exit.
The White House and the Democratic Governors Association has interviewed potential Michigan Democratic gubernatorial candidates but haven't backed one, and both appear to be waiting for a strong candidate to emerge before deciding how to help.
Ilitch said in a teleconference call with the media she needed six or eight months "at least for planning prior to hitting the ground running" and setting up a grassroots campaign. She had only a month to prepare, after presumptive frontrunner Lt. Gov. John Cherry decided not to run. She said the compressed time frame likely will be a challenge for other Democratic candidates. The primary election is less than six months away, on Aug. 3.
"Being an outsider, I felt I started from scratch," Ilitch said.
Pollster Bernie Porn, whose survey earlier this month had Ilitch as the only Democrat with double-digit support among voters at 23 percent, questioned whether Ilitch had the credentials to run for governor.
"She's familiar with education issues as a regent at the University of Michigan," Porn said. "But does she have much experience that would lend itself to managing state government?"
Ilitch, 54, is an attorney, a jewelry designer and magazine publisher. She's former president of her family's pizza and entertainment empire.
She said she hasn't been asked by party officials to run for another office such as lieutenant governor or attorney general, but said, "I will always keep any opportunities for helping Michiganders open."
She did not announce an endorsement of any other candidate, saying only she'll support the eventual Democratic nominee.
'Not a layup for either party'
Asked whether the Democratic candidate needs to be able to self-fund a campaign, Ilitch said anyone who runs needs to rely mainly on citizens and vested interests for funding. Bowman, who took with him $35 million in stock options when he left his job as chief of ITT Corp. according to published reports, is seen as a candidate who could at least jump-start a gubernatorial bid with his own money.
The conventional wisdom that says 2010 likely will be a bad year for Democrats did not weigh into Ilitch's decision, she said.
"The research and homework I've done ... doesn't support that conclusion. This is a Democratic state," she said, adding the race "is not a layup for either party."
John Tramontana, spokesman for the Michigan Democratic Party, said about Ilitch: "We feel she would have been a great candidate for the Democratic Party and for Michigan. Unfortunately, voters will not get to learn more about her and her campaign. But we respect her decision."
Ilitch said "it was very humbling and exciting" when President Barack Obama stopped by a meeting she had with White House officials last month. She said she and Obama "talked about Michigan's future."
In a prepared statement released Wednesday, Ilitch said: "Through a methodical planning process, I saw that the message, resources and many key endorsements would be there, but concluded that the compressed election year calendar would not allow me to run the kind of campaign for governor I believe Michigan needs at this time. And that stubborn fact is the one and only reason why I am not running for governor today.
"Though I will not run for this office now, I will keep the door open to other opportunities, as I believe that public service is the highest calling."
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