Michigan's powerful credit union lobby has thrown its support behind Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who is in a tough fight for reelection with billionaire heir to the Amway fortune Dick Devos.
Credit union leaders raised almost $60,000 during separate fundraisers July 12 in Michigan, and July 13 at Credit Union House in Washington for Granholm, a big supporter of credit unions, who stepped in on behalf of 150,000 members of DFCU Financial during the credit union's ill-fated conversion to a savings bank.
"Gov. Granholm has been a consistent and loyal friend of Michigan credit unions, said Patrick LaPine, chief lobbyist for the Michigan CU League, which has contributed $30,000 to the Governor's campaign. Her help in securing the historic modernization of the Michigan Credit Union Act in 2003 and her unwavering support for the credit union exemption from corporate income taxes have been invaluable."
The highly telegenic Granholm was being groomed as a national star by the Democratic Party until the auto industry cratered, and along with it the Michigan economy. The Republican DeVos has capitalized on the poor economy and a $10-million statewide advertising blitz over the last six weeks to pull ahead of Granholm in most of the polls.
Prominent Democrats threw their support behind Granholm during the CU House event, including Michigan Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, and the state's House members; John Conyers, Dale Kildee, Sander Levin, John Dingell, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, and Bart Stupak, as well as Sen. John Kerry, the party's 2004 presidential nominee, Democratic Party National Chairman Howard Dean, and former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard.
Ed Roberts can be reached at robertscuj
