Matt McLogan, vice president of university relations at GVSU, joins Grand Rapids Press political editor Jeff Cranson on this week's Talking Michigan Politics. recorded at One Trick Pony in downtown Grand Rapids. Thanks to proprietor Dan Verhil. The topics include: 1. The race for governor. A poll out Tuesday (PDF) from Lansing-based EPIC MRA confirms that the Democratic field has a ways to go in capturing interest, let alone excitement. Some 72 percent of those polled said they don't recognize t...
Apr 08, 2010•32 min
On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Jeff and Ed discuss: 1. Gov's race. New polls show U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra maintaining a lead on the Republican side, with Mike Cox slipping and Mike Bouchard now at 5 percent. On the other side, as Politics Daily put it, "some other candidate" leads the three Democrats in the Rasmussen Reports poll March 24. "It's pathetic we don't have a candidate," Robert Kolt, a Democratic-leaning public relations consultant, told the Detroit News. "We have ...
Apr 01, 2010•32 min
On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss: 1. Health Care. Is the health care vote really going to be the big issue in November, or is it still about jobs? Some believe the vote will solidify an alliance between social and fiscal conservatives in the GOP base. As former George W. Bush speech writer David Frum, who's rapidly falling out of favor with his party, asks: Do Republicans write a one-sentence bill declaring that the whole thing is...
Mar 24, 2010•30 min
On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, topics include the governor's race, education funding (and Saturday's controversial Meat Out), and the 3rd District Congressional race. Grand Rapids Press politics editor Jeff Cranson chats with Matt McLogan, vice president for community relations at Grand Valley State University, who is pinch-hitting for Ed Golder. 1. Getting negative The race for governor heats up with allegations from Attorney General Mike Cox suggesting that fellow GOP candid...
Mar 18, 2010•33 min
On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder tackle: 1. The race for governor. A new poll, released exclusively to the Grand Rapids Press and Booth Newspapers, finds Pete Hoekstra solidly out front on the GOP side with Rick Snyder continuing to surge on the strength of his TV blitz. Attorney General Mike Cox seems to be waning. On the Democratic side, Andy Dillon holds a narrow lead over Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, though a large number of voters rem...
Mar 11, 2010•31 min
On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, recorded at Rocky's in Grand Rapids, Jeff and Ed discuss: 1. The race for governor. The Democratic field is growing. Former Genesee County Treasurer Dan Kildee filed to explore a run and long-exploring candidate Andy Dillon, state House speaker, made his run official Monday. Do Kildee and Lansing Mayor Verg Bernero split the labor base and help Dillon? How does Dillon's pro-life status factor in the primary? On the GOP side, the campaign of Ann A...
Mar 04, 2010•30 min
On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss candidates in the race for Vern Ehler's Grand Rapids-based Congressional seat.
Feb 23, 2010•31 min
On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder are joined by Grand Valley State University Vice President Matthew McLogan to discuss: 1. How national political developments will affect Michigan and Grand Rapids-area races. Sen. Carl Levin said this week he thinks third-party candidates, like those in the Tea Party movement, could help the Democrats in general elections in some states. Would such a movement be akin to Ross Perot in 1992? Is Obama's jobs...
Feb 18, 2010•32 min
On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Jeff and Ed discuss U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers' retirement and the GOP governor's race turning ugly.
Feb 11, 2010•29 min
On this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Grand Rapids Press politics editor Jeff Cranson and editorial page editor Ed Golder discuss: 1. Fund-raising in the governor's race. Some surprising figures on the GOP side showed Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard near $900,000 despite low poll numbers; U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra, despite campaigning for several months, raised around $475,000 with $170,000 cash on hand. Attorney General Mike Cox, who leads in the polls even after noise in the fa...
Feb 04, 2010•30 min
Following a gubernatorial candidates' forum in Grand Rapids on Friday, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder recorded a special edition of the Talking Michigan Politics podcast.
Jan 29, 2010•16 min
Partisan politics at State of the Union; Michigan governor's race
Jan 28, 2010•31 min
In this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Politics podcast recorded at Rocky's, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss: 1. What does the Massachusetts Senate race mean to the remaining 2010 races? And is it a referendum on health care reform? Scott Brown won because his message moved independents, who will control many election to come and will continue to swing, demonstrating an impatience with office holders who don't get anything done. 2. The race for governor and speculation o...
Jan 21, 2010•28 min
In this week's edition of the Talking Michigan Politics podcast, Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss: The race for governor: Anticipation builds over a Denise Ilitch candidacy when Kent County Democrats announced she would attend a party event Wednesday night, also featuring Gov. Jennifer Granholm. ilitch.jpgDenise IlitchThe Associated Press reported that President Obama made an appearance at a meeting Ilitch was having with officials at the White House. Meanwhile, Oakland County Ex...
Jan 14, 2010•31 min
In this week's Talking Michigan Politics podcast Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder discuss the race for governor, developments in the Grand Rapids-based 29th Senate District race, and a change in leadership on the Kent County Board
Jan 06, 2010•31 min
Detroit terror, 2010 Michigan governor's race, partisanship in Washington and Race to the Top school funding
Dec 31, 2009•31 min
Is Virg Bernero serious about Michigan governor's race? Will Pete Hoekstra's bailout vote come back to haunt him? Plus health care reform, Race to the Top legislation and brain drain
Dec 23, 2009•33 min
