On "Off the Record" with Tim Skubick this past weekend (great show, BTW) it was mentioned that Granholm would start running ads in June.
Another interesting tidbit was that apparently Granholm is actually doing quite well in western Michigan, where the economy is doing better, while Devos is running strong in the Detroit suburbs and on the I-75 corridor up towards Flint/Saginaw/Bay City, where the economy is not doing so well. Devos was also up big in the Lansing area (hard to believe that one, but who knows).
Granholm's personal favorability ratings continue to be well ahead of her job approval ratings, as well. Not sure if that bodes well for her or not, but she's always been a good speaker and campaigner.
I wish the polls are specific on what consists of each area. Is Lake County and Manistee covered in West MI? Or is that "Up North"? Is Livingston County part of the Lansing, Detroit, or Ann Arbor area? That would skew whatever area towards the GOP. Is Detroit area just the Tri-County area? I don't know what is considered what. That said.
Lansing isn't as much of a surprise to me. I know many state workers there feel betrayed after voting for her in 2002. (She even won the Republican areas near Lansing (Eaton County, DeWitt in Clinton County) due to the Engler hatred among state employees) I doubt she'd duplicate that, just because she's boss if nothing else.
The GOP has been making some good gains (by percentage) in Genesee County lately. Saginaw and Bay City areas have been tougher to crack as the dems consistantly get 53% there (Bay County is actually more dem than Saginaw County which surprises some). Granholm really isn't the type of dem though that appeals there. That's part of the reason she picked John Cherry (who I actually like) as a running mate.
Grand Rapids itself took a big dem shift the last few years as did Kalamazoo. That may account for West Michigan.
We'll see what happens. I suspect much of "West MI" will return home, and much of the Flint area to do the same, just by partisan tradition, but a 5% shift here and there is all that's needed to win here as statewide contests here are almost always within 5%.