Who's fighting for Main Street? Rick Snyder and Virg Bernero both say they will as next governor
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder borrowed a page from the playbook of Democratic opponent Virg Bernero today, issuing a message to supporters in which he said he'll be a fighter for Main Street.
"I'm proud to announce that 'Main Street' continues to support our campaign," Snyder said in a statement. "The Michigan Retailers Association and the Associated Builders and Contractors have endorsed my candidacy. They join the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Association of Michigan and the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce."
Rick Snyder, left, said today he'll fight for Main Street, a message Virg Bernero, right, is spreading on his Fighting for Main Street Tour.
"These organizations represent thousands of small businesses, standing together to support our vision of a revived, vibrant Main Street," Snyder said, adding he looks forward to working with them to revitalize Michigan's economy.
Cullen Schwarz, a Bernero campaign spokesman, characterized Snyder's message as an attempt to distance himself from Wall Street. He said Snyder appears to be usurping the message Bernero is spreading on his Fighting for Main Street Tour, which is making its way across the state right now.
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," Schwarz said. "He appears to be trying to steal our campaign message, but it's too late for him to change his record now. This election is about a clear choice between Mr. Snyder's record of leading a major company who outsourced American jobs versus Virg's record of actually fighting for people and small business owners on Main Street."
Snyder is credited for growing jobs as president of computer maker Gateway, but Gateway later announced it would begin outsourcing manufacturing and some service functions in 2003 when Snyder was on the board of directors.
Bill Nowling, a Snyder campaign spokesman, could not be reached for comment.
Snyder, an Ann Arbor venture capitalist, announced today that Chris DeWitt is joining the campaign team as a senior advisor, a move seen as another attempt to appeal to Democrats and working class families. DeWitt, president of DeWitt Communications in Lansing, has worked for U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, former Attorney General Frank Kelley and Gov. Jennifer Granholm — all Democrats.
“There is a broad coalition of voters supporting Rick’s goal of reinventing Michigan," Nowling said in a statement. “Chris is a respected voice in Michigan and will help Rick Snyder articulate his positive message for Michigan’s future to a growing group of new voters and supporters.”
DeWitt offered his own remarks in a statement.
“Lansing is broken and Rick is a proven jobs creator who has the best plan to turn our state around,” DeWitt said. “I hope that all Democrats and Independent voters will put aside any partisan concerns and seriously look at helping Rick reinvent Michigan.”
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
Andrew
Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 5:01 p.m.
As Democrat as I am, voting for anybody by the name of Virg was against my religion. The combed over image of Virg in charge of MI was over my limit. I kept saying so to my wife, and the day Virg lost, she yanked Virg poster off the road of her own will.
ACLABT
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 4:28 a.m.
Oh, and jimlup Yes, the auto industry was the hardest hit over the past decade, but it was not nearly the only business to leave Michigan. Prior to Granholm, how often was Michigan in the jeopardy of bankruptcy and of "shutting down" government services? I also believe that it is a mandate that the state budget must be balanced and cannot run a deficit. I do not recall when that law went into affect, but I'm sure it was before Granholm. Republicans like to offer huge tax cuts, eh? Ok, look at it in reverse. Democrats like to mandate huge tax increases! NOT for the rich, but for all but the low income. I'm sure glad that you like to pay a LOT in taxes, but I don't. Granholm has not been good for this stat and I fear that the "angry gov'nor" will be worse. So far his campaign seems to "blame the other guy" strategy. We need someone in office who will motivate, inspire businesses, work with the people, knows how to create jobs and a healthy work atmosphere. That is not Bernero.
ACLABT
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 4:17 a.m.
jimlup - can you elaborate on why it would be "too dangerous" to hand the governorship back to republicans? Are you another of those people that blame everything on anyone but the governor? How good of a job do you think Granholm as done?
ACLABT
Sun, Sep 5, 2010 : 4:14 a.m.
EMG - how long has Granholm been in office? At what time would you think it's sufficient to quit "blaming" the previous (republican) governor? And you believe Granholm's hand's were tied for all these years and that the evil republicans are why Michigan's economy is so bad? Also, if our roads are so bad in Michigan, why are we wasting funds adding round-abouts (unnecessary and unliked by most people), "bike" lanes and resurfacing of roads that were resurfaced two years ago... yet there are roads that are nothing but potholes and bridges that are unsafe, yet have not been touched. For the jobs that were created by the stimulus, "hundreds" of jobs (temporary ones) are way too few in a state that has lost thousands. Instead of us taxpayers giving more and more money to the government so the government can hire (or provide) more government paid workers or funded jobs, what we need is to create a more hospitable environment for employers - small thru large corporations and start-up companies. We need to attract business to Michigan mikey2u - vote for the individual - not the political party. THAT is a lot of the reason the country is in the mess that it is in - because people are blind to the individualism of the candidate and vote for the party.
Pika
Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 4:15 p.m.
Diagenes, aside from serious philosophical differences that I (and many others) have with most republicans if we hand the governorship back to the republicans we are doing EXACTLY what you describe. Two points support my position, the first is that Granholm was handed a state in a serious economic deficit situation. Much like Louise the IV (Apres moi le deluge) the republicans like to offer huge tax cuts that they ultimately don't pay for because they are out of office by the time the effects hit. I also find it a stretch to blame Granholm and the democrats for the job losses in the auto industry. It is the simplification most people will make but it is the WRONG simplification. We need a governor who will fight for the people. Virg Bernero is the candidate who will do this. Rick Snyder will serve the elite (despite what will be his shrill rhetoric to the contrary this fall).
Diagenes
Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 10:42 a.m.
jimlup, Dangerous, how? If Snyder is Governor and the Republicans control both houses will unemployment be higher than what it is now? Will we continue to see population decline like it is now. Will more auto plants close like they have over the past 8 years? The danger is in following the same path and hoping for a different outcome.
John Q
Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 10:03 a.m.
"SBT then MBT, call it what you want, it's emblematic of what happens in a political system where government tries to pick winners and loosers" There isn't tax that exists that doesn't pick "winners and losers". Republicans in Lansing regularly vote for exemptions and deductions to the tax system that benefit their favorite special interests. To pretend that they haven't had a role in setting up that system is a joke. As for the MBT, it was the business community that pushed for the repeal of the SBT. They also lobbied the legislature heavily for the current state of the MBT. The complaint against the MBT is that a certain segment of businesses out-lobbied another segment of the business lobby and got changes that benefited themselves while sticking other businesses with higher taxes. The businesses that benefit under the MBT claim that they paid too much under the SBT while others paid little or nothing so they see those changes are making the system more fair. If businesses had a better ideas for the MBT, they should have proposed it when it was first being drafted.
Pika
Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 8:10 a.m.
While I have personal connections to Syner, I will vote for Bernero. Handing the governship back to the Republicans is just too dangerous.
McGiver
Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 6:35 a.m.
SBT then MBT, call it what you want, it's emblematic of what happens in a political system where government tries to pick winners and loosers. Who pays, who doesn't, and how much do we punish those who don't vote for us or support our causes. Download the MBT long form and you will see just what a joke it is and why business people hate it. And by the way, the only main street people getting support from Bernero will be unions. If he gets elected you will have Granholm on steroids.
C6
Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 6:25 a.m.
Forget Main Street. Now that construction on the stadium has been completed I presume that all lanes of Main Street are open once again and it's fine. What we need is someone who will fight for new Stadium Boulevard bridges.
grans716
Sat, Sep 4, 2010 : 12:39 a.m.
When did the phrase "Main Street" become the sole property of Bernero? Seems to me that I've been hearing "Wall Street vs. Main Street" for about 2 years now, long before Mr. Bernero was running for Governor. This pettiness is what demeans the Democratic party.
michiganpoorboy
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 11:39 p.m.
Virg sounds like a fool and there is no cure for that.
G.W. Williams
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 10:50 p.m.
I agree with DonBee, we need to put the partisan gamesmanship behind us and move forward on a common-sense plan to get Michigan's economy back on track. I like the bipartisan plan put together by Business Leaders for Michigan (http://www.michiganturnaroundplan.com). It has elements that Democrats and Republicans will like and dislike. It's a sensible plan on which we can achieve bipartisan compromise to make our state more competitive for jobs and eliminate the chronic budget deficit.
John Q
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 10:28 p.m.
"Repeal of the small business tax will benefit work in the private sector." There is no "small business tax" nor was it called the "small business tax" when it was the SBT. That stood for "Single Business Tax". It's now the MBT which stands for "Michigan Business Tax". Oh, it also doesn't apply to many small businesses. But let's not let facts get in the way of a political speech.
Speechless
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 8:11 p.m.
Rick Snyder's acquiescence to a far-right running mate from a banking background, along with the embarrassment of the tea party mass invasion at last weekend's statewide Republican convention, has clearly weakened his previously strong credentials as a moderate candidate. In an attempt to repair the damage and convince voters he could actually govern from the political center without being thoroughly undermined by his own party, Snyder has undergone a personal transformation. And now he resurfaces in public as — roll drumbeat — Virg Bernero with graying hair.
Ann English
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 6:31 p.m.
Government regulations chase jobs away instead of creating them. Repeal of the small business tax will benefit work in the private sector. Public sector employees get paid from private sector employees' tax dollars, so they shouldn't think that more government solves problems. The economic pie is only as big as the private sector is allowed to make it. I can already see Virg Bernero attempting to punish Ford Motor Company for not agreeing to be subsidized by our tax dollars if he gets elected.
michiganexpats.com
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 5:55 p.m.
Of course both candidates would say that. They are trying to win an election! The sad truth is that a governor can only do so much to bring jobs to Michigan. Let's hope whoever wins does all they can.
Cash
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 5:51 p.m.
Snyder knows Wall Street....where the fat cats deal and steal. That's his comfort level. Sadly they are the same folks who drove us into the brink of a depression. Stealing Berneros's campaign slogan is quite petty. I think Snyder can afford to buy his own slogan.
Mikey2u
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 5:49 p.m.
Unfortunately for Mr Snyder, Main St is not supporting him with their wallets and so he's had to loan his own campaign 6.5 million dollars. Snyder's cash woes combined with all the anger associated with the tea party and the republicans has turned me off. I will vote for the Democrats in November.
xmo
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 5:20 p.m.
I agree with Donbee, we should all just vote for Republicans and then we would not have to fight.
John of Saline
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 5:07 p.m.
Fighting is what you do when you are angry and don't have a game plan. One of them has embraced the persona of the "angry mayor." You make the call.
DonBee
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 4:04 p.m.
I wish we were not fighting, but working together to rebuild Michigan. Fighting is what you do when you are angry and don't have a game plan. Working together to find and fix the problems is what we need to do, not create divisions that pit one group against another.
DonBee
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 : 4:03 p.m.
I wish we were not fighting, but working together to rebuild Michigan. Fighting is what you do when you are angry and don't have a game plan. Working together to find and fix the problems is what we need to do, not create divisions that pit one group against another.