There, in close-up view just off the right shoulder of Barack Obama at his first press conference as president-elect in Chicago, was Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a member of his transition economic advisory board -- called an "All-Star Cast" on CNN.
Obama in his opening remarks singled out Granholm, saying he was "glad to be joined" by her on a day of grappling with grim economic news of joblessness and Ford/GM loss figures.
The Friday event further fanned speculation that Granholm might next year join his cabinet, possibly as energy secretary (Obama earlier used her in a forum highlighting the alternative energy issues she has touted in Michigan) or commerce secretary (raised by CNN in its interview with her Friday).
In his Saturday e-mail blitz, Saul Anuzis, the ever-combative Republican state chairman, said of her role as Obama adviser: "I guess he wants to find out what NOT to do?!?"
Should Granholm join the Obama cabinet or get a federal judicial appointment before completing the remaining two years in her last term, it would give Lt. Gov. John Cherry a boost for his expected 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
There was a similar boost for Lt. Gov. Bill Milliken when Gov. George Romney left in January 1969 to join the Nixon cabinet. Milliken subsequently won three four-year terms, giving him a record 14 years as governor -- a record that can't be broken unless voters undo the constitutional limit of two terms that they approved in 1992.
Other reflections on the historic presidential election and its impact on what's ahead for Michigan politics the next two years:
Turnout
The turnout of about 5.1 million voters was a record high, representing 68 percent of Michigan's 7.4 million registered voters. The highest such percentage was nearly 73 percent in 1960, when there were 3.4 million registered voters.
Northern Michigan accounted for half of the top 10 counties in the Nov. 4 turnout percentages of registered voters. Leelanau County was second at 77.27 percent (its Glen Arbor township had 84 percent participation and has on occasion been tops statewide among townships); Keweenaw was fourth, at 75 percent; Benzie was sixth at 74.98 percent; Grand Traverse was eighth at 73.87 percent; and Antrim was ninth at 72.95 percent.
Ottawa, with 79.11 percent, led the state.
Michigan House
Democrats picked up nine seats in the state House of Representatives, bringing their majority edge to a commanding 67-43. Two of the nine pickups were up north -- Dan Scripps in the 101st District, covering Benzie, Leelanau, Manistee and Mason counties, and Judy Nerat in the 108th, covering Delta, Dickinson and Menominee.
Nerat took the seat held by term-limited Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba; Scripps grabbed the seat of term-limited David Palsrok, R-Manistee.
Scripps was among five winning Democratic contenders in the nine pickup districts who benefitted from nearly $1 million worth of ads and other help from the Michigan Coalition for Progress, largely financed by Kalamazoo billionaire Jon Stryker.
U.S. House
All three veteran and victorious northern congressmen are returning to prominent roles.
Eight-term 1st District Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, had a 65 percent to 35 percent victory over Casperson. He chairs the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee of the Energy Committee, chaired by his Capitol Hill mentor and dean of the House, 26-term Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn. Stupak is the point man in helping Dingell fight an effort by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., to replace Dingell, long Michigan's most influential voice in Congress.
Eight-term 2nd District Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, who had a 62 percent to 35 percent victory over Fred Johnson, is the ranking minority member of the House Intelligence Committee. He has not hesitated to criticize a Republican president and will be an important voice when Democrats take over the White House and increase their majority come January.
Nine-term 4th District Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, winner by a 62 percent to 36 percent edge over Andrew Concannon, is a GOP whip in the House and has a good shot at becoming the ranking Republican on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
George Weeks retired in 2006 after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features.
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