Bernero: Obama administration seeking Cherry alternative for gubernatorial run

Lansing Mayor Virgil Bernero, in an interview with the Lansing State Journal, has acknowledged that the Obama administration has approached him and asked him to a consider a run for governor next year.

Bernero said he was flattered, but not interested. The Journal said a run for the state’s highest executive office is “very unlikely,” particularly since he just won re-election to the Lansing mayor’s post.

But why is the White House looking for a candidate other than Lt. Gov. John Cherry, the Democratic heir apparent to the term-limited Gov. Jennifer Granholm?

According to Bernero in the LSJ interview, Obama administration officials and Democratic operatives have “a lot of concerns,” about the longtime lawmaker and Granholm’s No. 2. Those concerns revolve around Cherry’s electability.

Polls in Michigan have consistently showed Cherry trailing likely GOP candidates in a general election.

Cherry, who has done everything but actually formally announce his run, faces a primary challenge from State Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith from Washtenaw County, and former State Rep. John Freeman. In addition, Michigan State University Trustee and former Michigan State University football coach George Perles has said he will run for the office as well.

Smith made a bid earlier this decade, and ended up as the number two name on the ballot with former U.S. Rep. John Bonior. They lost that election. But Smith has made a lot of noise recently by announcing a plan to eliminate the state’s 22 percent business surcharge, rolling back the state sales tax from six percent to 5.5 percent and extending it to services and instituting a graduated income tax. According to Smith, this move will generate nearly $6.5 billion in income for the state.

Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon, a Democrat from Redford Township, continues to mull a possible run for governor as well. He told MIRS, a subscription-only newsletter covering the Capitol, he was “90 percent certain” he will run. If he does toss his hat in the ring, his handling of the recent budget negotiations and the resulting cuts only budget signed into law in October by Granholm might hamper any such run, particularly with Democratic primary voters, who tend to be more liberal.

Bernero says many in the Democratic party are lining up behind Cherry because of “loyalty.”

“Loyalty is important,” Bernero said. “But so are the issues. So is winning.”

Cherry campaign spokesman Chris DeWitt declined to comment on Bernero’s interview.

Rumors have abounded since Bernero won re-election Nov. 3 that he might seek the governor’s office, and while he is saying he is unlikely to do it, the decibel level on the speculation is only likely to increase in the coming weeks as state Democrats and the Obama team look for a candidate they think can beat whichever Republican makes it out that primary.

The GOP field includes Attorney General Mike Cox, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland, Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder, State Sen. Tom George, Huron County Commissioner Tim Rujan, and Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.

Cox’s campaign has been struggling with the black cloud of allegations he mishandled an investigation involving an alleged party hosted by then-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

Hoekstra is being dogged by allegations he has released classified intelligence information, including once on Twitter.

Bouchard’s campaign has benefited from the announcement that he will have Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land as his running mate if GOP primary voters select him as their nominee for the governor’s slot.