One-Two Punch: Politico & NBC Say MI Governor’s Race Shifting Toward Democrats, RGA Gets Shaky on Schuette
In a one-two punch of bad news for Bill Schuette, Politico and NBC are forecasting that Michigan’s race for governor is shifting in favor of Democrats, while the Detroit Free Press is reporting that the “Republican Governor’s Association is shifting $1.5 million in advertising money away from key voting markets.”
In particular, Politico now rates Michigan’s race for governor as “Lean Democratic,” and NBC bumped Michigan up from #7 to #5 on its list of “top gubernatorial races that could switch parties.”
“This growing Democratic momentum and bad news for Bill Schuette reflects what we’re seeing all around the state: working families want change in Michigan after eight years of Republican failures,” added Michigan Democratic Party Chair Brandon Dillon.
Here’s what they’re saying about the growing Democratic momentum and bad news for Bill Schuette:
- Politico: “The race to replace Michigan GOP Gov. Rick Snyder is rated Lean Democratic: Gretchen Whitmer is a modest favorite over GOP state Attorney General Bill Schuette.”
- Detroit Free Press: “As the Michigan race for governor heats up in the final nine weeks of the campaign season, the Republican Governor’s Association is shifting $1.5 million in advertising money away from key voting markets in the race.”
- Michigan Campaign Finance Network’s Craig Mauger: “$1.5 million is a lot of ads.”
- National Journal’s Josh Krausharr: “Michigan moving away from the Rs.”
- MIRS: “The Republican Governors Association (RGA), the deep-pocketed interest group that dropped $10.4 million into Gov. Rick SNYDER’s 2014 re-election efforts moved $1.5 million in TV money out of the Grand Rapids and Detroit markets into other markets.”
- Gongwer: “However, the Republican Governors Association pulled some of its ad buy, which intrigued those following the race…”
- Lansing political consultant Ed Sarpolus: “If you’re pulling money out of southeast Michigan, that hurts everyone else below on the ticket. Forty percent of the vote is in southeast Michigan and sometimes perception becomes reality.”
- Mario Morrow, a Detroit-based consultant: “I’m sure that’s not making the Schuette camp very happy.”

