The first time former Gov. John Engler ran for governor he must have shed over 100 pounds of his excess baggage and he won.

    Lt. Governor John Cherry has peeled off 55 pounds from his previous 265 pound frame on his way to losing another 55.

    Could it be he is hoping to replicate Engler's victory?

    "I made a decision last year that if I was to be a candidate, there were several things I needed to do and one was to improve my health."

     The mere-shadow-of-his-former-self seems to be on the road to doing just that.

     "I feel a lot better now," he smiles as the issue of running for governor is quickly linked to his desire to replace Jennifer Granholm.

      Cherry laughs at the linkage but acknowledges the importance of image in the political game.

      He admits he lost the weight in part to "look more presentable."

      Frankly at a hefty 265, Cherry looked anything but presentable with the bottom button on his three piece suit busting out along with his dun-lap disease…you know his stomach dun-lap over his belt.

     In addition to counting calories going into his mouth, he has stopped something else from going in there, too.

     "I quit smoking last year around April," he boasts and unlike President-elect Obama, Cherry has not fallen off the wagon.

      "That's what's amazing," he boasts.

      "Whether I run or not, it's got to be a plus for me," he confides.

       The new John Cherry is now the thin man and on his way to maybe becoming the thin governor.

       Maybe like his current boss who is thin, perhaps his next goal will be to add a mold on his cheek, too?

       

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