john_cherryLansing television station WLNS is reporting that Lt. Gov. John Cherry might not seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010.

Long time Capitol reporter Tim Skubick reports Cherry could announce as soon as Tuesday that he is dropping out of the race.

But word is that Cherry has had trouble raising money – and fellow Democrats have privately and publically expressed doubts about his ability to win the race if he secured his party’s nomination.

Those doubts became public in November when Lansing Mayor Virgil Bernero announced he had been approached by the Democratic National Committee and other high level national Democrats to run for governor. At the time, he said he was unlikely to seek the nomination, but then announced that he was considering a run. Just before Christmas Bernero filed the paperwork to create an exploratory committee.

If Cherry — the presumptive front runner in the Democratic primary — steps out, it could clear the way for Bernero or House Speaker Andy Dillon of Redford Township to make a bid for the governor’s office. State Rep. Alma Wheeler-Smith and former State Rep. John Freeman are both already declared candidates. Former Michigan State University football coach and current MSU Trustee George Perles has also expressed an interest in seeking the nomination.

On the GOP side, Holland Congressman Pete Hoekstra, Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder, Attorney General Mike Cox, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Huron County Commissioner Tim Rujan and State Sen. Tom George are all vying for the GOP nomination.