Snyder, Bernero turn their focus to November

Michigan's race for governor will be a matchup of opposites: Democratic Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, the experienced politico who has held four different public offices, against Republican Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder, the entrepreneur who has never held elective office.

Bernero coasted past House Speaker Andy Dillon in Tuesday's Democratic primary while Snyder bested four opponents.

Snyder, 51, is a soft-spoken, almost shy Battle Creek native who calls himself "one tough nerd." He sailed through the University of Michigan with three degrees, found work as an accountant, ran Gateway computers and then became a successful venture capitalist.

Bernero, 46, is a brash, rapid-talking son of Italian immigrants who relishes his label "the angriest mayor in America," bestowed upon him at the height of the auto bailout negotiations when he frequently appeared on national news shows defending Detroit auto companies. He has been a county commissioner, a state representative and senator and is in his second term as mayor of Michigan's capital.

The two primary winners will face off Nov. 2 to succeed Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who is term-limited.

"This is the matchup where you have absolutely the biggest contrast between candidates in terms of their personalities and personal histories," said Bill Ballenger, editor of the Inside Michigan Politics newsletter. "You have Bernero, the chronic office seeker versus a guy who never ran for anything before in his life.

"I think that contrast is going to take over as the drama of the fall campaign. It won't be so much a Democrat versus a Republican, but Bernero versus Snyder."

Bernero offered a taste of the fall battle during his victory speech in Greektown on Tuesday night when he said: "The election is all about one question. Whose side are you on?" He said he's the fighter for the working stiff who can't seem to get a break in this economy, while Snyder is the candidate of the "rich" and the "corporate raiders."

"I will never stand for working people being thrown under the bus while Wall Street makes out like bandits," Bernero said.

Snyder said at the Marriott in Ypsilanti: "We have a new definition of a nerd, now don't we?

"It is time for a catalyst. I want to represent you as someone from the real world, showing up in Lansing. Michigan is in an economic disaster. We need to focus on jobs. We have a broken government."

With 76 percent of precincts reporting, Bernero defeated Dillon, 59 percent to 41 percent. In the Republican primary, Snyder had 37 percent, followed by U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland with 27 percent, followed by Attorney General Mike Cox with 23 percent, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard with 12 percent and state Sen. Tom George of Kalamazoo with 2 percent.

Bernero the underdog

Bernero, who made a comeback after trailing Dillon most of the campaign, likely will be in the underdog role again. More than two times as many voters cast ballots in the Republican primary than in the Democratic contest, indicating more excitement on that side of the ballot. It also indicates many Democrats crossed over and participated in the Republican primary, rather than staying home and voting for Bernero or Dillon.

Bernero is known for his boundless energy and his occasional propensity to "shoot from the lip." He once was embarrassed when he swore at city councilman and it was caught on tape.

"Snyder is well-positioned in the general election," said Richard Czuba, Chicago-based pollster for The Detroit News. "He is attractive to moderate and independent voters, who always decide elections in Michigan. Bernero really has his work cut out for him to appeal to the middle."

He noted Snyder captured some of the state's urban counties, further evidence he won cross-over votes in a primary that saw light to average turnout across the state.

Snyder successfully courted the middle in a primary race where the other candidates were falling over each other trying to get to the right.

"I think this election says, on the Republican side, there's room for a little bigger tent," said Bill Rustem, president of Public Sector Consultants Inc., a Lansing-based public policy think tank.

Snyder cobbled together a coalition of some Republican base voters, independents and Democratic cross-overs to claim victory. He ran as an outsider and said social issues weren't important in the campaign. He eschewed endorsements and political-action contributions. He sat out the final two debates sponsored by the Michigan Republican Party. Snyder also spent by far the most money on the primary campaign -- $7.3 million, including $5.9 million of his own fortune.

Snyder sweeps Metro area

Snyder swept tri-county Metro Detroit, beating Cox in his home Wayne County and Bouchard in his home Oakland County.

Snyder has defended countless attacks on his tenure at Gateway. Opponents said he laid off American workers, shifted jobs to China and was guilty of insider trading. Snyder rebutted all the charges and none of them stuck.

"I went for Snyder because he's not a big government guy, he's a businessman and not entrenched with the party," said Dan Boyd, a 52-year-old engineer from Highland, who considers himself an independent.

Bernero ran as a traditional Democrat against Dillon, who courted moderate voters. He parlayed the support of labor and abortion rights groups to a primary win. His campaign didn't spend a dime on TV ads but labor and other groups poured nearly $2 million into 30-second spots through the Genesee County Democratic Party.

"I was leaning with Andy Dillon until about a week ago, because I thought he was possibly more electable and stood a better chance of negotiating agreements with the Legislature," said Sid Kahan, 54, an unemployed information technology manager from Bloomfield Township. "But he just does not represent my values, and in the end, that was too important to me. Bernero reflects my values on issues like abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research."

"I voted for Bernero because I like the fact he's a mayor who knows how to run a city, he's pro-choice on abortion and he's supported by labor unions. My husband is a union member," said Rita Ryall, 54, of Clinton Township.

Rustem said Bernero's success "shows labor still holds tremendous power in the Democratic Party of Michigan."

Chris DeWitt, Democratic political consultant, said of Bernero: "He ran a very effective campaign with help from sources like the Genesee County Democrats. The ad message clearly showed the differences between the two candidates and Dillon never really came up with an answer. I don't know what was going on in their campaign."

He said Dillon needed a 2-to-1 money advantage to overcome Bernero's endorsements "and he didn't get it."

Detroit News Staff Writers Mike Wilkinson, Christine MacDonald, Micki Steele, Ron French and Oralandar Brand Williams contributed.