GOP Presidential Race Under Way in Michigan

When Michigan Republicans gathered here for a state convention this weekend, their major concern ostensibly was with the November battle to unseat Democratic Gov. James J. Blanchard. But, behind the scenes and between the speeches, the 1,500 delegates were buzzing about another contest of far broader significance--the struggle for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination.

Agents for Vice President George Bush, New York Rep. Jack Kemp and Kansas Sen. Bob Dole, all considered likely 1988 contenders, prowled hotel corridors buttonholing delegates and dispensing food, drink and brochures extolling the virtues of their favorite candidates.

All this suggests that Michigan Republican leaders are well on their way toward drastically accelerating the presidential campaign calendar to assure their state a prominent place in the national political sun. To achieve this objective, they have laid plans to begin the process of selecting delegates to the 1988 Republican National Convention in August, more than 18 months before the customary campaign kickoffs in Iowa and New Hampshire.

‘Permanent Campaign’

Michigan’s giant step toward establishing what Bush strategist Lee Atwater calls “a permanent campaign” for the presidency has drawn criticism from some politicians. They point out that, when the Michigan process begins this August, with Republican primary voters picking about 10,000 precinct delegates, none of the presidential prospects will even officially have declared their candidacies, let alone defined their views on key issues.

“At some point, you break the back of reality,” contended GOP consultant Eddie Mahe, a veteran of past presidential campaigns.

But Michigan party chairman E. Spencer Abraham brushes aside such criticism, pointing out that the precinct delegates elected in August will be officially unpledged to any presidential candidate and that they will have until early 1988 before they have to make a firm commitment.

Abraham also refuses to accept blame for lengthening the presidential campaign, claiming that this development is a reflection of modern political trends. “The next campaign now starts immediately after the last election,” he told reporters here to cover the convention. “It’s not because of us--it’s the candidates and the media.”

1980 Results

Abraham claims that an early start is necessary to avoid the fate that befell Michigan in 1980 when Bush won the presidential primary in May, but Ronald Reagan was so far ahead in the race nationally that network delegate counters pronounced him as good as nominated. “For each side, months of hard work and costly expenditures proved fruitless,” Abraham said.

Some Michigan Republicans complain that the early presidential competition is disrupting party efforts to win back the governorship in November. “This is causing havoc,” said Iris Spencer, chairman of the Bloomfield Women’s Republican Club and a delegate to the Kalamazoo conclave. “It’s tearing everything up.”

But Abraham argues that any friction from the presidential competition is more than offset by the benefits it brings. “I don’t think there is a downside to this,” he said, citing the visits to the state by prominent national party leaders who help raise money and build enthusiasm.

Thus, those attending the two-day Kalamazoo conclave heard addresses from former U.N. Ambassador Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, considered to be a prospect for the 1988 GOP vice presidential spot, and former White House Chief of Staff Alexander M. Haig Jr., a dark-horse presidential possibility.

And, week in and week out, state voters are getting ample opportunity to see and hear their party’s most-often-mentioned presidential prospects firsthand. Although the strictures of the federal campaign laws require these potential aspirants to label their efforts as aimed at aiding the Michigan GOP rather than fostering their own ambitions, some of their supporters do not make any bones about their ultimate objective.

‘Win It Big’

“We’re supposed to win here, so, if we’re going to prove the point, we are going to (have to) win it big,” said Brooks Patterson, one of the local leaders of the drive being mounted on behalf of Bush, widely regarded as the front runner here and in most other states.

Last year Bush visited Michigan five times and plans to be back “about once a month” in 1986, according to Bill Hussey, regional director of the Fund for America’s Future, Bush’s political action committee. The fund has a full-time paid headquarters staff of four in the state, with nine more part-time field workers.

Kemp, viewed as Bush’s chief rival, visited Michigan seven times last year, more than any other state outside his home base of New York, and plans 10 more trips this year, according to John Buckley, his press secretary. The Michigan Opportunity Society formed to recruit delegate candidates sympathetic to Kemp’s views and presumably to his candidacy has a staff of eight, said Clark Durant, one of its leaders.

“If you’re serious about running for President in 1988,” Buckley said, “you have to be serious about running in Michigan.”

Looking for Openings

While Kemp and Bush so far have been the most active in Michigan among the 1988 potential candidates, nearly all the others seem to be looking for openings they can exploit.

Pat Robertson, the television evangelist, is said to have substantial backing in some parts of the state.

Dole was in the state “about 10 times” last year, according to Joe Bailey, a staff member at Dole’s political action committee, Campaign America.

The precinct delegates chosen by the August primary voters, who will also select the party’s gubernatorial candidate, will attend county conventions where, in early 1988, they will choose delegates to a state convention. And, later that year, the state convention in turn will pick the national convention delegates.