“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,” she said in a statement.

“And that stubborn fact is the one and only reason why I am not running for governor today.”

The party’s two remaining candidates are Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, D-Salem, which has the blue party scrambling for different candidates, said Bill Ballenger, editor and publisher of Insider Michigan Politics.

“I think the Democratic Party, the leaders — whoever they may be — whether it’s labor unions or (chairman) Mark Brewer or elected officials, they’re looking for what looks like stronger candidates,” he said.

Calls to Bernero’s campaign were not returned.

John Tramontana, spokesman for the Michigan Democratic Party, issued a statement with respect to neutrality about the race.

“We feel Denise Ilitch would have been a great candidate for the Democratic Party and would have been a great governor for Michigan,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the voters will not get the opportunity to learn more about her and her campaign but we respect her decision.”

Ballenger said most of Ilitch’s early support — a leading 23 percent of Democratic respondents favored her in a January poll conducted by EPIC-MRA, a public policy polling group in Lansing — came from name recognition, adding the name isn’t a political one, either. Ilitch was considered the top Democrat after Lt. Gov. John Cherry rescinded his candidacy.

Ballenger said he expects at least one of three potential candidates will declare for the gubernatorial post. House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, former Michigan Treasurer Bob Bowman and former Genesee County Treasurer Dan Kildee are the three undecided people Ballenger mentioned.

Robert Kolt, a media consultant at Kolt Communications, said Bowman “takes a step closer to being a candidate” every day and that the former state treasurer has met with Cherry, Gov. Jennifer Granholm, state Democratic Party leaders and other officials about a possible campaign.

Kolt said this year’s election is particularly enticing because it still has yet to take concrete form with November less than a year away, whereas past gubernatorial campaigns have taken years.

“We’re in a very short sprint compared to the campaigns we’re used to,” he said.

Ballenger said the Democratic Party enjoyed Ilitch’s fundraising ability, as Michigan’s crippled economy will make it difficult to attract donations for a grassroots political campaign. Given Ilitch’s status and connections to her father, Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers owner and Little Caesars Pizza founder Mike Ilitch, she could have drawn from personal finances and deep-pocketed business people.

Bowman could be best poised to make a run for that very reason, Ballenger and Kolt said. Already familiar to Lansing, Bowman is CEO of Major League Baseball Advanced Media and has extensive funds and connections.

“(Having money) certainly is helpful, but he knows so many people from his years of working in Michigan,” Kolt said.
“He would have a great chance of raising more money than any candidate in Michigan. Fundraising wouldn’t be an issue.”