I reported on this last night but apparently steam is picking up as Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has already told many news outlets that if the Republican Party uses Kilpatrick against Obama that is unfair and not right. That's why sources out of Obama's National Campaign office in Chicago want Senator Barack Obama to call for Kilpatrick's resignation. Is Kilpatrick's problem a Presidential issue that is worthy of either Presidential candidate responding to it unless asked about it, the answer is no. Obama should not listen to his campaign advisers who are urging the Senator to denounce Kilpatrick and call for Kilpatrick's resignation so that Obama can keep his legitimate shot at winning the state of Michigan come this November.
Now if Obama does come out and speak out against Kilpatrick, it still could hurt his chances of winning the state because even with Kilpatrick's legal problems in the city of Detroit, he still has a base of approximately 35%-45% if not half the city is still in support of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. So Obama could risk alienating many of Kilpatrick's supporters who might decide to stay home in support of Mayor Kilpatrick and Obama's calling for his resignation. It is clear that the Republican Party might use the mayoral mess against Obama and Gov. Granholm has said she fears that tactic more than anything.
Therefore I am going to be the first to tell you that Obama and Kilpatrick regardless of how cosy they looked last year at the Detroit Economic Club have never seen eye on eye because during Kilpatrick's Re-election mayoral bid, it is rumored that Obama, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Harold Ford Jr. all snubbed Kilpatrick's mother's request for the National Black Congressional Caucus to donate to his re-election fund. Also to add fuel to the fire, when Obama spoke at the NAACP dinner, I believe in 2005 or 2006, the Kilpatrick's walked out as soon as Senator Barack Obama started to speak. It hit the major news outlets in Detroit and many questioned why the Kilpatrick's walked on Obama's speech. Now it is all clear and that is why the Kilpatricks didn't endorse Obama for President but supported Clinton's bid. It is clear that Kilpatrick and Obama need each other right but Obama needs Kilpatrick support in order to take the state of Michigan. Regardless of how the Democratic Party looks at it, Kilpatrick is still a political powerhouse in the city of Detroit and has many fundraising connections that could benefit Obama.
However if Obama calls for Kilpatrick's resignation than it is clear that the Republican Party in the state of Michigan benefits from this and will use many of Kilpatrick's Republican friends to help them win the state for Republican Presidential candidate John McCain. Kilpatrick still has a strong Democratic and Republican base that stretches from the top of the state to the bottom despite Kilpatrick's legal problems. It is clear that Obama wants to win Michigan and needs to win Michigan in order to win the White House this November. That's why as rumors continue to flair up, I want to make it clear that if Obama and Gov. Granholm think that by getting rid of Kilpatrick, Obama will have a cake walk to winning the state of Michigan, that is so far from the truth.
This political posturing needs to stop and Gov. Granholm needs to make sure that she is fair in her proceedings over the mayor removal hearings that will take place September 3rd. In fact Gov. Granholm doesn't need to fear the Republican Party using the mayoral mess against Obama but she needs to fear Detroiters not voting for her when she runs for U.S. Senate in a couple of years because of her lack of leadership in the state particularly her lack of support for the city of Detroit. No more political posturing and I hope Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama doesn't listen to Gov. Granholm and his advisers that he should speak out against Kilpatrick by calling for a Kilpatrick resignation. There are more grave issues plaguing America and Detroit than Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick legal problems.References:
Obama Camp Debating Kilpatrick Question http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7200842&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1


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