Thanks to the successful bipartisan push to give Michigan more clout in the presidential nomination process, the Great Lakes are getting more early--and hopefully sustained--attention on the campaign trail than in the past.
Ex-Gov. Jim Blanchard, early energizer of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's Michigan campaign, told me Friday, "the Great Lakes are deep in the psyche" of Michigan voters, and could be "the third rail" here for candidates who blunder on the issue.
One who stepped on the rail is New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a former cabinet officer and UN ambassador who is as well credentialed on domestic and foreign issues. But the long shot contender blundered on the Great Lakes when he suggested to a Nevada newspaper that northern states "awash in water" could share it with the thirst belt.
This prompted a "hell no" from Gov. Jennifer Granholm (who last week endorsed Clinton); outrage from such watchdogs as the Michigan Environmental Council and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters; and a letter to Richardson from U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, a Capitol Hill guardian of the Great Lakes.
Stupak told Richardson "current law states that no water can be diverted without the approval of each Governor of the Great Lake States (42 USC Sec. 1962d-20). In addition, I passed legislation (H. RES. 566) during the 105th Congress expressing that the President should take steps to prevent any sale or diversion of the Great Lakes without the approval of the 8 surrounding states and 2 Canadian provinces.
"Your proposal leaves several questions unanswered. How would your policy preserve the rights of states to stop water from leaving the Great Lakes basin? Does your plan in any way allow for the federal government to authorize transfers of water resources over the explicit objections of the state? What safeguards would you have in place to take in account the commercial and environmental needs to avoid over exploitation of fresh water resources?" Challenging Richardson's "awash in water" assertion, Stupak said: "This is far from true. The Great Lakes water levels are reaching the lowest point in recorded history dating back to 1918. Much of my district has been experiencing a persistent drought. Your proposal for an increase in diversion to states outside the Great Lakes basin would only serve to exacerbate this situation. The waters of the Great Lakes should not be taken from the Great Lakes basin. Any policy that would allow diversions out of the Great Lakes basin will lead to water resource depletion and exploitation." It should be noted that the Great Lakes, low as they are, still have a fifth of the world's fresh water; Richardson did not actually "propose" diversion; and his office, after he made a pitch for Nevada's early-in-the-process voters, subsequently said he "believes firmly in keeping water in its basin of origin and the rights of states to oversee water distribution." But the issue is emerging as an election focus, thanks in large part to Michigan's parties for setting a Jan. 15 presidential primary and challenging the "stranglehold" (to quote Sen. Carl Levin) that New Hampshire and Iowa have had on the nomination process.
When ex-Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts this month brought his GOP presidential campaign to Traverse City on the Lake Michigan shores of Grand Traverse Bay, he stressed broad issues he has been raising across the nation.
But in a subsequent private meeting with a dozen or so local Republicans, he was quizzed about the Great Lakes and talked about his family's life along its shores. Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, and local attorney Lou Smith said they were satisfied that Romney as president would be protector of the Great Lakes.
But Romney and other presidential candidates have yet to issue a ringing public declaration.
Thanks to Michigan's enhanced role in the process, we may yet hear a protective pledge any day now.
George Weeks retired last year after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features
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