‘Unnoticed and unreported’ political ramblings in ‘A Distant Rumble’

While reading longtime Michigan political consultant G.T. Long’s memoir, the name Lee Atwater may pop in your head. Atwater played on the national political stage and was noticed for his aggressive campaigning and political stumping. Long performed a similar role for such Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula Democratic candidates as Mitch Irwin and Pat Gagliardi in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.  

“A Distant Rumble,” released last year, is a distillation of what he learned from running those election campaigns, along with a self-help guide for candidates and campaign volunteers. The often funny book covers everything from fundraising, petitions and door knocking to yard signs — and yard sign stealing. 

Long entered campaigning in 1974, when at 26 he ran for the mayor of Sault Ste. Marie. He was living there while attending Lake Superior State University after four years in the Air Force. 

His only experience had been volunteering on the 1972 George McGovern presidential campaign. Long finished fifth in the mayoral race. Undeterred, he ran twice more, in 1992 and 1994, for state political office, unsuccessfully. Long discovered he was much better at getting other people elected, and he settled in as a campaign consultant while working from his home in Horton Bay. 

In 1978, Long worked for Irwin’s campaign for the state Senate. In the chapter “Kidnapping Ted Kennedy,” he describes how the Irwin team was able to spirit Kennedy away from waiting dignitaries under the guise of “using the facilities” to get the senator to record a voiceover radio endorsement. Irwin won, and he hired Long to work in his Lansing office. 

Soon, though, Long moved north to work on Irwin’s reelection campaign. Long writes, “I preferred working on campaigns. There at least, I knew what kind of craziness to expect.” 

Numerous examples of that craziness fill the rest of his book, ranging from the flat-out hilarious to what might be described as dirty tricks, a la Atwater.  

One of the funnier moments occurred when Long’s candidate dropped in on a Catholic retreat center before finding out it was a silent retreat center, with no talking allowed. The most egregious campaign moment occurred at an Upper Peninsula bar when Long was given an envelope with $5,000 in cash to be used for campaigning.  

In his descriptions, Long often uses pseudonyms to protect politicians. And, despite living in Northern Michigan, Long has kept his hat in the ring, — most recently working for Michael Bloomberg’s presidential campaign and Dana Nessel’s successful campaign for Michigan attorney general. 

Long’s book shines as a primer on how to do grassroots campaigning, which despite technological advances in targeting voters is still a staple of political campaigning. 

In an interview from his Up North home, Long said, “The book is a perfect primer for candidates who have never run for public office.” Long said he paid particular attention in his book to the nuts and bolts of on-the-ground campaigning. 

Long’s credentials are impressive, having worked for several Democratic politicians and three chairpersons of the state Democratic Party. He shares his thoughts weekly at 11 a.m. Mondays on “Michigan’s Big Show” on 1240 WJIM-AM. 

For those who don’t consider themselves to be political activists, Long said he hopes the book “will open their eyes.” As for some of the sleazier topics Long wrote about, he proffers, “People aren’t naïve about what goes on in political campaigns, especially after the last four years.”