(Cross-posted on WMR and BFM-PB)
According to Washington Post reporter Chris Cillizza, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land is dropping out of the gubernatorial bid later today, as well as endorsing rival candidate Mike Bouchard.
Bouchard Scores Major Endorsement: Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land will end her gubernatorial exploratory committee today and endorse Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard’s bid, according to a strategist close to Bouchard. Land and Bouchard will appear together at two stops — one in Grand Rapids and the other in Troy. Land’s support is an early boost for Bouchard, who lost badly to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) in 2006, because she hails from the Republican-rich western part of the state and has impeccable social conservative credentials. Bouchard will still face a tough primary fight against state Attorney General Mike Cox, Rep. Pete Hoekstra and businessman Rick Snyder in 2010.
http://voices.washingtonpost.c…
If Cillizza is correct, I think that this endorsement helps Bouchard gain some momentum. However, I can’t see Land’s endorsement helping him gain lots of votes in western Michigan. Land, while well known, doesn’t have the same endorsement creed that can appeal to primary voters such as DeVos. In the end, I think that Land’s withdrawal is being high-fived around the Hoekstra campaign, as a major regional opponent in the Congressman’s home region is out, and he can troll for votes in SE Michigan while seeking to bank votes back in western Michigan. If State Senate Tom George drops out, Hoekstra will have much of the western part of the state for himself, putting the three east side candidates (Bouchard, Synder and Cox) at a greater disadvanatge.