Why was Jennifer Granholm re-elected by such a wide margin in 2006?

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

Michigan was a pretty blue state until the last few years, in 2004 it was 6% more democratic, than the nation, 2006 was a D+8 year so Granholm winning by 14% is what you would expect.

Didn't McCain make a serious effort to contest it in 2008?

He ended up losing Michigan in 2008 by a larger margin than Devos did in 2006. Of course Sabato Crystal Ball had it at "Tossup" as late as August.

[America Needs a 13-6 Progressive SCOTUS]

Michigan was a pretty blue state until the last few years, in 2004 it was 6% more democratic, than the nation, 2006 was a D+8 year so Granholm winning by 14% is what you would expect.

Didn't McCain make a serious effort to contest it in 2008?

He ended up losing Michigan in 2008 by a larger margin than Devos did in 2006. Of course Sabato Crystal Ball had it at "Tossup" as late as August.

sh**t went south for the Republicans in September and we all know that. And of course, Obama had a 'home region effect' in the MI/WI/IL/IA/MO area where his personal popularity and the recession all temporarily reversed the gradual decline of the dem lean of all the states in the region (except IL).

I am fairly sure that there was a point in the 2008 Cycle where Sabato rated Iowa as Safe D while rating Michigan as a Tossup at the same time.