As Governor Jennifer Granholm grapples with a staggering budget and other problems in her final year in office, Democrats are still sorting out who will run for that office in the August 3 primary that is less than six months away.

Last week:

Detroit businesswoman Denise Ilitch, who had talked to President Barack Obama about the race, said there was not enough time to assemble a campaign for the Democratic nomination.

Previously, frontrunner Lieutenant Governor John Cherry, U.S. Representative Bart Stupak, Senator Hansen Clark, and ex-state Representative John Freeman said they would not run and cited money-raising concerns.

As Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero joined Representative Alma Wheeler Smith as an announced candidate, he took a shot at the politicians in the Capitol across the street from City Hall who have trouble crafting a timely and balanced budget.

He said current leaders have "presided over budget debacle after budget debacle." That, of course, includes leaders in his own party.

Former state Treasurer Bob Bowman, a whiz kid in the administration of 1983-91 Governor Jim Blanchard and a former Wall Street executive with ITT Corporation who since 2000 has been president of the Internet operation of Major League Baseball, filed paperwork at age 54 to run for governor but announced Monday he would not be a candidate.

Bowman lives in Connecticut but has a summer home in Harbor Springs and has been registered to vote there since 1998.

House Speaker Andy Dillon has formed a gubernatorial exploratory committee and ex-Genesee County Treasurer Dan Kildee is considering a run. Dillon has been somewhat of a thorn for Granholm. They on occasion have been out of sync on what each has proposed.

Dillon will be no spear carrier for the budget Granholm unveiled that includes trimming the sales tax rate from 6% to 5.5% and extending it to certain services.

He said, "Tax increases should be a last resort, not a first option."

In reality, Granholm has stressed the cutting option over the years. As she said in her weekend radio address: "No governor in Michigan history has cut more state spending than I have, and my budget for the upcoming fiscal year continues to reduce spending. But we cannot create an environment more conducive for jobs and economic growth by only cutting spending. We have to invest in the things that are most critical to attracting and keeping business in Michigan.

"One of the most important needs of a 21st century business is having a 21st century talent pool. And that means education. Education directly correlates to job creation. Therefore, despite declining state revenues, my budget recommends maintaining per pupil funding for K-12 education at current levels."

The reality also is that Granholm's budget faces a huge legislative hurdle. As veteran Booth Newspapers political columnist Peter Luke observed, it "landed with a thud, leaving doubts about a compromise plan that raises sales taxes, fills another big hole in the K-12 budget, and provides longterm business tax relief."

Muddy Trails

It's not all that severe yet, but things are getting nasty in the Republican gubernatorial primary. It could be a prelude to months ahead in both parties.

In his widely-viewed Super Bowl ad and subsequent statewide TV ads -- which were effective despite the goofy theme that he is "one tough nerd"-- Ann Arbor venture capitalist Rick Snyder took swipes at "career politicians" while flashing pictures of some of his Republican primary opponents along with pictures of Granholm and disgraced ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

Subsequently, Snyder, U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra of Holland, and Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard were targeted by shadowy radio ads and robo-calls that are all too common in these days when those who have a political trumpet don't have to identify who pays to blow it.

Snyder's campaign sent a letter to Attorney General Mike Cox with a demand to "stop your supporters from funding these attacks." Although some of those involved in the ads have been Cox supporters, Cox denies any link with the ads or its sponsoring organization.

John Truscott, former press secretary to 1991-2002 Governor John Engler and now spokesman for Hoekstra, told Mark Hornbeck of The Detroit News: "I've never seen anything like this in Michigan. The overall tenor is absolutely disgusting. The people of Michigan deserve better."

They likely won't get it. Just wait 'til the general election.

Republican Forum

Hoekstra, Snyder, and state Senator Tom George, another gubernatorial candidate, were among many statewide candidates, including those for attorney general and secretary of state, who addressed about 145 party loyalists at Saturday Ronald Reagan Breakfast sponsored by the Grand Traverse County Republican Party at the Park Place Hotel in Traverse City.

"The governors race is about leadership," said Hoekstra, who called state government "too big and expensive."

Snyder said, "We have a fundamental lack of leadership in Lansing...We need to reinvent our state -- start fresh."

George, a practicing physician, said, "state government is crippled" because of soaring health care costs. He said the best way to "reinvent" the government is to pass the call for a Constitutional Convention that will be on the fall ballot.

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land represented Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, who has picked her as his gubernatorial running mate.

Snyder won a $1-a-vote straw poll at the event. Although he has been a trailer in statewide polling, the wealthy Snyder tends to win in straw votes at party events. This one was a Whos Who of regional office-holders. The tally was not announced, but County Chairman David Barr said the poll raised about $2,000.

Vern's Valued Voice

When state Senator Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids) won a special election for Congress in 1993, wrote of the regrettable loss of an influential voice of reason and moderation in Lansing.

His decision last week not to seek a ninth full term in Congress means a similar loss in Washington --and loss of a powerful Michigan voice on the Great Lakes and other environmental issues.

I have noted in recent weeks how such politicians as Cox, Granholm, U.S. Representative Dave Camp (R-Midland), and Senator Debbie Stabenow have sought to block the threat of Asian carp advancing into the Great Lakes. Also to note: Physicist Ehlers early on successfully sponsored legislation to study invasive species and for a $9 million electric barrier in the Illinois River to block Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan.

Secretary of State Land, former Kent County clerk, would be strong contender for the GOP nomination for Ehlers seat. But she said: "For those of you who might be wondering, I am not running for Representative Ehlers seat." She's staying as Bouchard's campaign running mate.

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.