By Rick Pluta, MPRN
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-878546.mp3
LANSING (MI) – Lieutenant Governor John Cherry has dropped out of the race for governor. He was once considered the clear frontrunner to win the Democratic nomination.
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Cherry never formally said he was in the race. However, he had set up a campaign committee and was accepting donations and endorsements. Governor Granholm and many other Democratic Party and labor leaders backed Cherry as her replacement. But Cherry had trouble raising money and polls consistently showed him losing to Republican candidates.
Now, the field is open to a host of contenders and potential contenders for the Democratic nomination: State Representative Alma Wheeler Smith and former state Representative John Freeman are already running. House Speaker Andy Dillon and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero are considering getting in. Michigan State University Trustee and former football coach George Perles has also expressed interest.