Campaign cruise control

Well, we had our chance to get a look at the contenders for the November general election in the 87th district State Rep. race and were reminded why conventional wisdom says Brian Calley won this race in August. Last night's forum at Thomas Jefferson Hall in Hastings showed no reason for anything to think Brian Calley won't be sworn in to a Gary Newell's vacant seat in January barring a meltdown by Brian Calley which would likely have to include multiple felony charges. Calley's decisive win over a crowded Republican primary field was impressive enough that even the Barry County Republicans who charged certain candidates with "crowding the field" have had to realize that even in a one-on-one match that Calley likely still would have won- which means there is not a serious sense of bad blood- and a unified Republican Party means another commanding win in November for the banking industry's Golden Boy.

Democratic Party nominee Doug Kalnbach showed a sense of humor and got in some good zingers but it won't be enough to even bring him above 40% most likely. Kalnbach come across as a likeable guy but also a typical union candidate- presenting a gut level appeal to the working class who has long ago tuned out the Democratic Party's message of economic populism in favor of the Republicans' message of corporate fascism and theocracy sold through fear mongering and spoon-fed easy answers to complex moral and social issues. If Kalnbach was serious about this race, he'd also be hitting the streets harder than he is- there's not many votes to be won at small town drinking holes or biker rallies. I'm sure the calculation is that the anti-helmet biker crowd shows up and swings this race for Kalnbach, but Calley's pro-gun and pro-life stances are all it takes to win here. It's time for the Democrats to hit harder and play smarter if they want to win. Dave Brinkert's campaign against Gary Newell showed that even a pro-gun, pro-life Democrat doesn't have a chance- it's time for some long-term thinking and to lay the groundwork to take these seats when the political landscape has shifted more in favor for the Democratic Party- perhaps when they get redistricted in 2010.

If the Democratic Party wants to win seats in West Michigan they need to begin a long-term campaign in the form of a 5, 10 and 15 year plan that works on voter registration and education, candidate recruitment and grooming and an attempt to provide a funding structure besides relying on the remaining union members and a few $50 from friends and family to fund their candidates.

The only way I could see Brian Calley losing this race was if the far right voters, feeling alienated by a national Republican Party that has spent money like drunken sailors and failed to do anything of substance on abortion or homosexual marriage despite having a solid majority in Congress as well as control of the Executive branch and having a majority of Republican-nominated justices on the Supreme Court, decided to abandon the GOP and cast protest votes for fringe party candidates but that won't happen here. Constitution Party and US Taxpayers Party candidate Walt Herwarth failed to appear as a credible alternative to Brian Calley, sometimes losing his train of thought and not finishing his answers. It wasn't a good performance and it was a good sign that there won't be much to worry about from Calley's right flank which was the only place there could be a serious challenge.

The status quo will reign and re-elect Gary Newell (well, his protogé anyway) to another term in Lansing. And in a couple more years when you hear people grousing about Lansing and politicians, ask them how they voted in November, 2006. I bet you'll know the answer...