By Gordon Evans, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-914840.mp3
Kalamazoo, MI –
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Kalamazoo State Senator Tom George lacks the name recognition of his rivals for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, and polls have consistently shown him trailing the rest of the field. But George still thinks he has the right plan for Michigan.
AUDIO:
Tom George has served in the legislature for a decade, the last eight in the state senate. George is also an anesthesiologist. He says experience as a doctor has helped him understand how to bring down medical costs. Medicaid makes up a large chunk of the state budget. George has been trying to distinguish himself from the other four Republicans running for governor by claiming to be the most realistic about Michigan's fiscal crisis.
George says the others are proposing large tax cuts while increasing spending.
"If effectuated, they would drive the state into insolvency," he says. "And Republicans, we need to be the party of, of reality. If you have a problem, this applies to medicine as well as politics, the first thing you need to do is have a sober assessment of it."
George says a massive tax cut isn't affordable right now. He'd roll back the Michigan Business Tax, but says more extensive tax cuts would have to wait until spending is reduced.
Jeff Padden, president of Lansing think tank Public Policy Associates, says George is giving an honest assessment of the state's budget crisis. But Padden, a former Democratic state lawmaker, says that comes at a political cost.
"There seems to be some sense of reality in what he's saying," Padden says. "He's also running dead last, by a long shot, in the polls among likely Republican voters."
But Tom George says there is a large block of undecided voters because the other Republican candidates aren't closing the deal.
"They're saying the typical thing that Republicans have said for decades," George explains. "I'm going to cut your taxes, but don't worry there will be more spending for your projects' and people realize that that is not going to work."
"It's probably not working in Tom's favor because he is telling the truth," says Don Gilmer.
Gilmer is a former state representative who also served as Michigan's budget director. He also says George does not have the same money and resources as other candidates to reach out to voters. But Gilmer says if George can win the Republican nomination, his message may play better in the campaign leading up to the general election.
"I think when you get to the broader electorate that you have in the November election, that's Tom's message, or elements of Tom's message, I think will be more important than they are in the primary," Gilmer says.
Gilmer has not endorsed a candidate for governor. But he says George is raising the right questions.
George says he can still break through to reach voters. He says he's raised enough money to start running radio and TV ads, although he won't be able to match the air time purchased by his rivals.
"There's still time left for me," he insists.
George is also the only Republican or Democratic candidate who intends to vote "yes" on a convention to rewrite Michigan's constitution. George says that's because Michigan government is outdated and needs to be dramatically restructured. He says it shows that he's the only candidate acknowledging how big the state's problems really are, and who's willing to prescribe the bitter medicine that Michigan needs.
Election 2010 - WKAR
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