Blanchard on Iowa
(WJBK) - One of Hillary Clinton's most loyal and ardent Michigan supporters is former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard, and his take on the events in Iowa Monday night were direct and to the point. "I'm glad we survived." Speaking personally and not as a spokesperson for the Clinton for President campaign, Mr. Blanchard observes that the battle for Michigan's convention delegates with Bernie Sanders will be a "real spirited battle," but he predicts, of course, that his candidate will prevail.
The Clinton campaign has tapped the former governor to be the campaigns "authorized representative" dealing with the delegate contest. Meanwhile the campaign over the weekend anointed a long-time Democratic activist, Walt Herzig, to be the campaign manager in Michigan. Mr. Herzig works for Congressman Sandy Levin and was the campaign manager in the ill-fated John Cherry for Governor bid years ago.
Gov. Blanchard reflecting on the closeness of the race in Iowa points to "protest Democrats" who sided with Mr. Sanders. He describes them as "frustrated with the established order" but he also indicates they are backing a candidate "who can't win." The former Ambassador to Canada during the Bill Clinton presidency says these voters are not attracted to experience which he says his candidate has and in the end politics is a "team sport and does not lend itself to outliers."
He also questions Mr. Sander's Democratic Party pedigree. "Bernie tried to recruit someone to run against Obama the last time" he ran. Mr. Blanchard says he does not know the challenger but everyone tells him, "Bernie is a nice guy,"
The Clinton Michigan campaign will announce a series of "low cost" fundraiser's in the near future including a visit from former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton in Birmingham on February 11th followed the next day by her dad and former President Bill Clinton in Grand Rapids. Then on February 16th at the University Club on the MSU campus, former First Lady Janet Blanchard is hosting a "Michigan Women for Hillary" event that has signed up 100 female co-hosts. Senator Debbie Stabenow will be the key-noter at that event and Mr. Blanchard reports that men are also invited to the event.