Detroit Free Press: Underdog in GOP gubernatorial race goes on the offensive at debate
State Sen. Tom George, who has spent most of the 2010 campaign season as an afterthought in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, became its chief agitator Monday at a debate among three of the field's five hopefuls.
With Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard and Attorney General Mike Cox not in attendance because of scheduling conflicts, George took the opportunity to characterize his onstage rivals -- U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra as a big-spender from Washington, D.C., and Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder -- as relatively clueless.
The comments came at a forum hosted by Grand Valley State University.
The GOP candidates were in agreement about the need to reform Michigan's tax structure, starting with what they all described as a business tax that discourages job creation.
They also said they renounced the use of negative campaign ads. Snyder treaded carefully on that topic as he is currently airing an ad that repeats attacks used by others against both Hoekstra and Cox.
Nevertheless, he said, "We shouldn't be spending time on going after one another."
George was especially critical of Snyder's notion of transforming state government spending practices to something he calls "value for money" by asking state departments to focus on outcomes rather than costs.
George, a practicing physician from Kalamazoo, remains the least known and financed candidate.
The broadcast is to air today on most public television outlets across Michigan. Stations in Detroit and Lansing are scheduled for 10 p.m., others at 8 p.m.
All of the candidates for governor, both Republican and Democrat, are next scheduled to appear together at the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual conference on Mackinac Island in early June.
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Posted: 5/25/2010