Has the 2010 campaign been uglier than any before it? I’m not sure about that point, but I do seem to be hearing more complaints about campaign tactics.
Judicial races, for example, used to be a quiet electoral backwater. Not anymore, I’ve received questions or charges of racism involving a campaign flier against 55th District Court Judge Donald Allen and against the Democratic campaign against Republican incumbent Supreme Court Justice Robert Young.
It’s been an astoundingly heated year in Eaton County politics. A proposal to expand EATRAN is on the ballot for a second time and has produced regular accustations of lies and nefarious intent from both advocates and opponents. On a policy level, I could make a case for voting “yes” or “no,” but I am surprised at the vehemence of the commentary. It’s a transportation millage, not the end of the world.
And in a truly perplexing circumstance, the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee seems to be making a sizable effort to not just retain, but expand, the party’s already-lopsided control of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners.
Heading into the election, Dems controlled the board 13-3. Two of the three Republicans are unopposed this year — Don Vickers and Randy Schafer.
The third, Steve Dougan, has been targeted by the Dems apparently. OK. That’s poltiics. You play to win.
But let’s say that the Dems succeed against Dougan, and fend off challenges to their incumbents in other districts. That leaves the board at 14-2 Democratic. Is that a material difference?
Now, for a state party, the few thousands of dollars spent against Dougan are a mere trifle. But if you do have money to spend, why wouldn’t Democrats be throwing every last dollar into something meaningful, such as GOTV efforts to cling to a majority in the state House or retain a majority on the state Supreme Court?
If the election goes as many expect, the Dems are going to get wiped out on the statel level this year. In turn, that will lead to a GOP-drawn map of congressionial and legislative seats that will put Dems at a disadvantage for a decade.
Odd.
