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This year's three statewide races are essentially over for the Michigan Republican Party, The Detroit News' opinion editor acknowledges with regret.
(Photo: Michigan Republican Party)
"What the five Republicans left in the [gubernatorial] race are doing this summer barely qualifies as a political campaign," Nolan Finley says in a subscribers-only Sunday column.
It seems as if Republicans are just going through the motions of a gubernatorial primary campaign, listlessly ticking off the days until Aug. 2 when they can officially anoint a sacrificial lamb to face Gretchen Whitmer. ...
I doubt even Trump could light a fire under this dismal race.
In addition, the party has "picked such disastrous candidates to run for attorney general and secretary of state," he adds about Matt DePerno and Kristina Karamo.
All that is bad news for Republicans lower on November ballots, the editorial page editor observes:
If the entire top of the GOP ticket collapses, it could wipe out Republicans in congressional and legislative races as well.
Finley quotes four Michigan party figures who share his dismay. A sampling:
► John Yob, campaign strategist: "It was always going to take someone a cut above to be competitive with Gretchen Whitmer. I don't know whether any of these candidates can give her a run for her money."
► William Nowling, past state party communications head: "The typical Republican is not engaged. What an abomination. ... I’ve been in this business 30 years and I’ve never heard of these people" running for governor.
