Lansing — U.S. Sen. John Kerry endorsed Gov. Jennifer Granholm Wednesday afternoon at a memorial dedication for fallen law enforcement officers in Lansing as part of his monthlong campaigning effort for Democratic candidates across the country.
At the Lansing event, Kerry emphasized sacrifices law enforcement officers make daily during the dedication of the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument.
"The very least we can do is honor the sacrifice, honor the fallen heroes. Setting up a monument after the fact is not enough," Kerry said.
When Granholm spoke, she made it clear the memorial was dedicated not only to Michigan law enforcement officers, but also to those responsible for keeping the U.S. citizens safe overseas.
"Responsibilities have greatly increased since 9/11. Homeland security is not just local anymore — it's national," Granholm said. "For these great citizen soldiers here on the home front, on behalf of our 10 million Michigan citizens, I want to thank you."
After the event, Kerry segued to Michigan politics and blamed any blemishes on Granholm's political record on the Republicans and President Bush's administration.
Granholm is running for re-election against Republican challenger Dick DeVos.
"Mr. DeVos and President Bush and all these folks are walking in sync, and it's down the corporate path," Kerry said. "I don't want to see Michigan go backward, and I don't want to see the country go backward. And that's why I'm here. I want to see (Granholm) stay."
Kerry spent the past week in seven states, rallying support for Democratic candidates running in the November midterm elections.
In Michigan, with three televised debates behind them, the two gubernatorial candidates are looking for ways to solidify voter confidence in their campaigns.
DeVos' campaign spokesman John Truscott said DeVos is spending the final 19 days before the Nov. 7 election talking with media editorial boards and speaking around the state.
Despite voter complaints that DeVos has not specified his proposed policies, there aren't any plans to change his strategy before the election, Truscott said.
"I said in the beginning of the summer they would throw everything at us and knock us down 10 points," Truscott said. "But our numbers are turning around nicely."
Granholm plans to speak about the contrasts between her and DeVos as the campaigns move forward, Granholm's spokesman Chris De Witt said. Some of the issues she plans to focus on include abortion, the environment and federal free-trade agreements, he said.
"Gov. Granholm showed she had a record of putting Michigan first," De Witt said. "Dick DeVos showed he had a record of putting himself first."
Many voters have given their support to the Granholm campaign after the debates, he said.
Recent polls suggest indicate where the campaigns may be heading.
Polls released Friday and Sunday, just before the final debate on Monday, showed Granholm leading DeVos by almost 8 percentage points.
Local efforts on campus are mirroring the statewide gubernatorial campaigns.
The MSU College Democrats have stepped up their efforts now that the debates have ended, said the group's President Karissa Chabot.
"Right now we are knocking on every door on campus, handing out (literature) and using the persuasion knock," Chabot said.
Despite the increase in effort by the MSU Democrats, Jeff Wiggins, the chairman of the MSU College Republicans, said their efforts will remain the same.
"We've been in touch with the candidates for about a year now," Wiggins said. "We have a schedule where we will be helping candidates, helping them with basically anything they need help with."
