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Michigan now a swing state, former senator says

By Gary Massaro, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 28, 2008 at 2:05 p.m.
Updated August 28, 2008 at 2:27 p.m.

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BROOMFIELD -- Barack Obama can win Michigan, normally a blue state but now a battleground state, former Sen. Don Riegle said today.

"It's a real sprint now to election day, especially in the swing states," said Riegle, who served as a Republican Congressman before switching parties and later serving two elected terms as senator.

Michigan is considered a tossup state because Republican John McCain is popular based on his military service and time in the senate. And if he chooses former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney as his running mate, it increases his chances because Romney's father, Goerge, was an elected official in Michigan.

In addition, Michigan's "Soviet style primary" caused a lot of hard feelings, Riegle said. Hillary Clinton's name was on the ballot. But Obama's wasn't. Neither were North Carolina's John Edwards or New Mexico's Bill Richardson.

"Two things happened. Michigan didn't have a chance to tell candidates their story," Riegle said. "And candidates didn't get down to the grassroots to get their message out. People will tell you what you need to know if you listen. People are great teachers. It helps if a political figure is a good speaker. But it's more important to be a good listener. Ears are more important than your voice."

Another issue is Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's legal problems, which opponents say are a blight on the party and supporters say are racially based.

Obama has a commanding presence in a crowd, but he must project that he can connect one-on-one, said Riegle, who wrote "O Congress" in 1972 with Trevor Armbrister, a best seller about his philosophical differences that finally led him to switch sides.

To win, Obama must first win over blue collar workers. Riegle said he should run a Bobby Kennedy campaign -- jacket off, shirtsleeves rolled up, meeting face to face with people.

"I'd like to see him take off his coat and not put it back on until he's inaugurated in January," Riegle said.

Comments

  • August 28, 2008

    2:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    dilligaf writes:

    Oh yea in UAW country they surely will vote for a party that has been sticking it to them for years.

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