Candidate Bernero In Kalamazoo Tonight

KALAMAZOO (WKZO) -- With three Democrats, five Republicans, and one possible independent in the race for governor, name recognition will make a big difference. Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero's name recognition is on the upswing around Michigan after the AFL-CIO union endorsed him for governor on Friday.

Michigan AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney said the union is backing Bernero because its members like the former state senator's goal of bringing middle class jobs back to Michigan.

In the latest poll taken last week by Denno-Noor Research, however, Bernero still trails state House Speaker Andy Dillon by 2-percent. Dillon has 13-percent support, while state Representative Alma Wheeler Smith is in third with six-percent.

Roughly 56-percent of Democratic voters remain undecided ahead of the primary. Mayor Bernero will be trying to improve his name recognition in Kalamazoo tonight when he addresses the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party at Theo’s and Stacy’s on Portage Road at 5:30.