response 51 of 57:

Apr 12 22:54 UTC 2002

I didn't say it was surprising, just peculiar.  

response 53 of 57:

Apr 26 21:25 UTC 2002

Interesting poll results:


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 10:45:42 -0400
From: D. Bonior <bonior@mindspring.com>
To: bonior@mindspring.com
Subject: "Bonior Moves Up," Detroit Free Press

Below is the Detroit Free Press article announcing David Bonior's rise in
the polls and an articel from Mirs News announcing Clean Water Action's
endorsement of David Bonior for Governor

Democratic Rivals Get Even
Blanchard in tie with Granholm as Bonior moves up
April 26, 2002
BY Chris Christoff
Free Press Lansing Bureau Chief

The Democratic race for governor has tightened to a dead heat between
Attorney General Jennifer Granholm and former Gov. James Blanchard, a new
poll shows.

And for the first time, U.S. Rep. David Bonior has gained ground on the
front-runners, largely among union voters, the poll showed.

Granholm and Blanchard each drew 34 percent among 400 likely Democratic
voters polled. Granholm lost the leads she enjoyed over Blanchard in polls
by the same company, EPIC/MRA of Lansing, in February and March.

Bonior was the only candidate to significantly gain support, going from 12
percent to 16 percent, largely among union voters.

"It's the first time we've seen movement for Bonior, he's finally gaining
some traction among the groups that endorsed him," said Ed Sarpolus, who
conducted the poll for EPIC/MRA of Lansing.

The new poll shows Bonior the most-preferred candidate among UAW and AFL-CIO
voters. Granholm does best with members of the state's largest teachers
union, the Michigan Education Association, while Blanchard is the favorite
among Teamsters.

But Sarpolus said Bonior has yet to make inroads among non-union voters. He
does, however, out-poll both Granholm and Blanchard among men who identify
themselves as Democrats.

The poll, conducted Sunday through Wednesday, has a margin of error of plus
or minus 5 percentage points.

"This proves what we've been saying, that David Bonior will be a slow and
steady riser in this race. We have a lot of time left," said Bonior's
spokesman Mark Fisk. 

Lansing political analyst Craig Ruff said Bonior could change the dynamics
of the race completely if his support keeps growing. That, he said, would
create more uncertainty, as the candidates try to peel votes away from one
another. 

Ruff said Bonior may have been helped by recent media coverage of his choice
of state Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith, D-Salem Township, as his lieutenant
governor running mate. Smith abandoned her own candidacy for governor to
join Bonior's campaign.

The poll suggests some of Granholm's support has gone to Bonior or to the
ranks of the undecided, which grew by 7 percent since March. Blanchard's
growing outstate support is a result of his strong name recognition and
closer inspection of Granholm by voters, Sarpolus suggested.

But in metro Detroit, Granholm maintained her 12-point lead over Blanchard
among Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county voters. They account for nearly 60
percent of the turnout in a Democratic primary.

Granholm spokesman Chris DeWitt said the Granholm campaign isn't focusing
solely on the Detroit region, but added, "In a Democratic primary, that's
where the majority of Democratic votes are."

DeWitt said until the campaigns launch television advertising, polls now are
meaningless.

"We've always said this is going to be a tight race," he said.

Blanchard spokesman Erik Mueller said the race will be competitive until the
primary election Aug. 6. He said with Granholm apparently losing support,
"It may demonstrate that voters want substance, not just style."

Other highlights of the poll show:
Men and women chose Blanchard and Granholm at about the same rate. Bonior
does better with men than women.

Blanchard does best among older voters and black voters.

Among declared Democratic voters, Blanchard has a slim lead over Granholm.

Independent voters who say they'll vote in the Democratic primary could be
crucial for Granholm. More than half chose Granholm.

http://www.freep.com/news/politics/govpol26_20020426.htm


"Clean Water Action Behind Bonior," Mirs News

Michigan Clean Water Action Vote Enviornment (MCWAVE) will announce that
it is endorsing U.S. Rep. David BONIOR (D-Mt. Clemens) for governor.
Bonior earned himself the endorsement for fighting for a bill banning PCBs
in the 1970s and, more recently, for asking the Environmental Protection
Agency to clean up St. Clair Shores. 

Clean Water Action has 60,000 members in Michigan.

"Whether it's leading the charge to stop Canadian and out-of-state garbage
from being dumped in Michigan or fighting to ban oil drilling in the Great
Lakes, there is simply no better champion for our environment than David
Bonior,... said Cyndi ROPER, chairperson for Clean Water Action's Michigan
political committee. 

response 55 of 57:

May 22 07:58 UTC 2002

... 3 hour notice? better than nothing but not enough time for me
to get there .. adn i probably would have given aboout 2 days notice.

response 57 of 57:

May 23 04:54 UTC 2002

I got a call about it last week, and an e-mail announcement three or four days
later.  I guess I should have passed it on.