GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The advancing tendrils of a looming storm cloud cooled the sunbaked expanse of Rosa Parks Circle as a stream of Michigan Democrats fired-up a crowd of base supporters gathered for some Sunday politicking.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer, unchallenged in next week’s primary, waved his union card and repeatedly blasted Gov. Rick Snyder as an “accidental nerd” more interested in courting billionaires than addressing the needs of working folks like those in the crowd.
“Nothing less than the future and character of our great state is hanging on the line,” Schauer told the several hundred Democrats gathered in downtown Grand Rapids on Sunday, July 27 for the afternoon rally.
Schauer headlined the 3 p.m. rally solo after Rep. Gary Peters, a U.S. Senate candidate battling Republican hopeful Terri Lynn Land for retiring Sen. Carl Levin’s seat, was a no-show due to a family obligation, said campaign staff.
Schauer, who spoke for about 20 minutes, followed a stream of Democrats from Kent County and elsewhere at the podium — a historical artifact originally built for a 1948 Grand Rapids campaign stop by Harry S. Truman.
‘Get out and vote’ was the message. Schauer and others drove it home during an event short on policy talk and long on energy and optimism.
"We are dead tied in the polls and just getting started," he said. "Rick Snyder is scared and he should be. They are spying on us."
Prior to his appearance on stage, Schauer said he felt “very confident” in his chances come Nov. 4, when statewide voters hit the polls for the midterm election.
As far as implementing his policy agenda should he win this fall, Schauer downplayed the difficulties he’d likely face in getting bills though what may be a Republican-controlled Legislature in Lansing.
Schauer, a former Congressman and Michigan Senate Minority Leader, characterized his ability to build relationships with the state legislators as a strength lacking in Snyder, a former businessman.
“Every time Rick Snyder has engaged the legislature on a tough issue, he’s lost votes,” said Schauer.
His would be a “very different approach” said Schauer, who repeated a prediction that Democrats would win the five seats they need this fall to control the Michigan House.
The candidate's appearance in Grand Rapids followed a campaign stop in Lansing this past week, where Schauer pitched female voters by pledging to work for benefits like unpaid pregnancy leave and restoring the child tax credit.
There was plenty of rhetoric directed at women on Sunday, but Schauer and other Democrats had a more general focus at the Grand Rapids event.
His remarks ended in a chant: “We vote. We win. We change our state.”
Garret Ellison covers business, government and breaking news for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at gellison@mlive.com or follow on Twitter & Instagram