When former Vice President Al Gore joins Jennifer Granholm on campus today, it’ll complete a one-two punch for wide-eyed Democrats who hope the party scores big at the polls next week.
As the clock strikes noon, Granholm plans to lead a parade of Democratic hopefuls who will join the former presidential candidate on stage at the Fairchild Theatre before nearly 1,000 supporters.
The Democratic Victory 2002 rally marks the beginning of the final leg of the race to replace Gov. John Engler, who will round out his third and final term as the state’s executive at the end of the year.
Granholm, the attorney general, faces her chief opponent, Republican Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, on Nov. 5.
“We are thrilled to have Al Gore coming,” said Nate Engle, president of the MSU Democrats, adding that the high-profile visit is bound to give a shot in the arm to the party during a year of dramatic turnover in state politics.
But Posthumus spokesman Sage Eastman says Gore’s visit to East Lansing indicates that the “Granholm campaign is on the run” as Election Day nears.
“We thought all along that the shine would come off the apple,” Eastman said, referring to recent polls showing the attorney general’s lead narrowing.
A poll conducted last week by East Lansing-based Mitchell Research & Communications Inc. for The Detroit News showed Posthumus has moved within eight points of Granholm. Another poll, released earlier in the week by Lansing-based EPIC/MRA, placed Granholm ahead by 14 points as the two entered the final stretch.
But will a visit by the top Democrat from Election 2000 give Democrats a push on Election Day? Maybe not, according to the pollsters who are busy forecasting the races.
“Gore’s visit certainly won’t turn any votes or change any minds,” said EPIC/MRA Vice President Ed Sarpolus. Gore’s appearance will energize his base of supporters, but won’t influence other voters because, as Sarpolus says, “Gore doesn’t live here or work here.”
In past elections, MSU has served as friendly stopping grounds for big-name Democrats. Former President Bill Clinton made his first of five visits while campaigning in 1992, and Gore dropped in during the final days of his presidential bid in 2000. Gore won the state on Election Day, but lost nationally after recounts and court appeals.
East Lansing is no stranger to high-ranking Republicans, either. President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney both stopped in the city in recent years.
With about 45,000 students ripe for grass-roots politicking, it isn’t surprising that MSU would play a welcoming host for candidates with top-level aspirations. “Michigan State is such a large campus, and we are real close to the state Capitol. So when they come to MSU, it speaks well for the campus,” MSU President M. Peter McPherson said.
MSU is the first destination of the day for Gore, who also has trips to Grand Rapids, Southfield, Taylor, Novi and Southfield planned for today. Doors will open at 10:45 a.m., and advance tickets were passed out last week.
Several local Democrats are expected to speak at today’s one-hour event, including the following: Virg Bernero, D-Lansing, who is running against Paul DeWeese, R-Williamston, for the 23rd District Senate seat and Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, who is competing with Larry Ward, R-Williamston, for the 69th District House seat.
“Gore will come to preach to the converted,” said American thought and language Professor John Dowell, who collaborates on YouVote, a voter education program. “I don’t think Gore has ever been one to get folks excited. But he got more than half of the electorate excited, and still isn’t president.
“So how exciting a guy can that be?”
Kristofer Karol contributed to this report.
