Incredible, shocking, and unbelievable.  Pick your adjective to describe the widespread speculation that the front runner for the democratic nomination for governor is poised to drop out of the contest.

     No one from the John Cherry campaign was available to confirm the story, but there are strong indications that his decision could be announced as early as Tuesday.

     The buzz on the streets for weeks has been getting louder that the Lt. Governor was having difficulty raising money and he was battling the naysayers, many of whom reside in his own party, that he can not win in November even if he got the nomination.

     Those who support House Speaker Andy Dillon for the nomination have been quietly shopping that story line behind the scenes, and Lansing Mayor Virg Benero has gone public with that same statement.

     The ironic element of this story is that there were many who felt Cherry would have been a good governor with his long legislative history, his ability to work both sides of the aisle and the mutual respect he earned from both R's and D's.

     But his close linkage to the incumbent Gov. Jennifer Granholm was a hump he had to get over, but he steadfastly refused to toss his boss under the bus.  He was too loyal to do that.

    So with the frontrunner headed for the sidelines, this town will go nuts over who might come off the sidelines and get into the now wide open contest for the coveted democratic nomination.

    Incredible, shocking and unbelievable and then some.