Mark Schauer In Ann Arbor

On the eve of Tuesday's election, Michigan gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer rallied local Democrats in Ann Arbor, delivering his final pre-election speech before a large crowd on the University of Michigan campus. "We stand here at the doorstep of changing the direction of our state," Schauer said, addressing a mix of college students, local community members and elected officials gathered inside Annenberg Auditorium. Before the rally, Schauer visited downtown Ann Arbor businesses, including Old Town Tavern, Sweetwaters and Frita Batidos, chatting it up with patrons and employees. Read the story.

Dems Unite

An energetic crowd of Democrats rallied Monday night on Election Eve at the Ford School at the University of Michigan. Go here for a slideshow with captions.

Sending Out An S.O.S.

Michigan secretary of state candidate Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, called on University of Michigan students Thursday night to help get her campaign message out to voters. Benson is down in the polls, but popular among young voters. "The real secret weapon of our campaign is all of you," she told the crowd. "Just like in 2008 when your generation elected a president, in 2010 you will have an opportunity to ensure that the next generation of leadership in Michigan is one that can directly help you." Read the story here.



For good measure, here's another photo I shot of Jocelyn Benson and state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, D-Salem Township, back in April at the Michigan Democratic Party Endorsement Convention in Detroit. That was the day she earned her party's endorsement and subsequently secured the nomination in August to run for the open seat.

Democrats Unite

Former Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean told a crowd of mostly University of Michigan students Wednesday night that a victory for Democrats in the November midterm elections is anything but assured. "You caused a revolution in this country two years ago. We are in danger of losing everything that you worked for," he said. "We can't let that happen. All I'm asking is, for the next 55 days, that you get your friends involved like you did two years ago." With less than two months to go until the Nov. 2 election, Dean urged the crowd gathered at Rackham Auditorium in Ann Arbor to sign up to volunteer for the campaigns of Democratic Congressmen John Dingell, Mark Schauer and Gary Peters, shown in the pictures below. Read the story here.

And Justice For All

Newly appointed Michigan Supreme Court Justice Alton Davis and Oakland County Judge Denise Langford Morris, pictured here, were nominated for the high court without debate at the Michigan Democratic Party Nominating Convention. Since both had the support of organized labor, the two faced no opposition from the floor. The Republican Party nominated incumbent Justice Robert Young and Wayne County Judge Mary Beth Kelly. Langford Morris addressed a small crowd in Ann Arbor two days before the convention. Read about Langford Morris here.

Michigan Democratic Party Endorsement Convention

The Michigan Democratic Party today held a first-of-its-kind endorsement convention at Cobo Hall in Detroit. I was there as a journalist, but not covering the event. Instead, I was shadowing state Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, who is running for governor of Michigan. I'm writing an in-depth candidate profile on Smith, who lives just outside Ann Arbor, leading up to the election. Until then, here are some sights from today.