Light turnout forecast for Aug. 3 primaries

Lansing -- Michigan's Secretary of State estimated Wednesday the turnout for next week's party primaries will be less than a quarter of the state's registered voters.

Terri Lynn Land said she expects about 1.7 million at the polls, while gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Mike Cox said he expects 700,000 to vote in the Republican primary.

Land, who is running as lieutenant governor on Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard's ticket, based her estimate on past turnout in primary elections, absentee voter activity and local officials' estimates.

Land said she expects 23 percent turnout because of hotly contested primary races for governor and some congressional seats.

Cox said at a news conference at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Lansing "turnout is looking lower than what we thought a year ago" because it's likely to be a hot summer day and Democrats also will have a competitive primary.

He expects 150,000 fewer voters than showed up for the GOP presidential primary in 2008.

Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ron Weiser said recently he expects up to 1 million voters in the party's primary.

Cox said he has an idea what percentage he needs to win but declined to reveal his thoughts.

"We're shooting for fifty (percent) plus one," said Cox, who was flanked by Chamber of Commerce President Rich Studley and Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing, whose organizations have endorsed the attorney general for governor.

The candidate said, "It's about turning your voters out," adding he's confident the Right to Life rank-and-file will help get his backers to the polls.

Cox said he's doubtful there will be many crossover voters taking part in the Republican primary, "but if there is, I poll really well with independents."

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland launched a 30-second television ad statewide Wednesday intended to tell voters about his record, he said. The ad is largely a response to Cox ads that have attacked Hoekstra for his votes for federal spending, questioned whether he's a conservative and slammed him for missing votes in Congress.

"Aren't you tired of special interests and lobbyists telling you how to vote? Politicians who won't tell you the truth? I'm Pete Hoekstra. I'm fiscally conservative, 100 percent pro-life, pro-gun, and I have a 95 percent voting record. Case closed," he says directly to the camera.

Other Republican candidates are Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder and state Sen. Tom George of Kalamazoo.

The Democratic primary race pits House Speaker Andy Dillon against Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.

The Associated Press contributed. mhornbeck@detnews.com">mhornbeck@detnews.com (313) 222-2470