One Smug Nerd: Is Snyder campaigning like Dukakis?

Has Rick Snyder become a “tone-deaf egghead who oozes off-putting moral superiority?”

MLive columnist Susan Demas thinks that description is not far off the mark, as she compares the governor’s recent campaign style to two Democratic eggheads from the past -- Michael Dukakis and Al Gore.

Here’s how Demas dissects the “One Smug Nerd” routine that she sees playing out:

“For months, Snyder has avoided debates with his opponent, Democrat Mark Schauer, which looks weak. First, the guv dismissively declared that he didn't "know if [citizens] need" debates. (Translation: I'll be the judge of what you need, plebeians).

“Then Snyder announced he'll just be doing solo town halls, thank you very much, with audience members hand-selected by his campaign. (One town hall will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 2 in Sterling Heights.) Snyder's campaign manager, Kyle Robertson, blithely told reporters why the guv wouldn't deign to be in the same room with the Democrat:

"Mark Schauer lacks the intelligence to keep up with him in a format like a town hall." (Translation: I am smarter than everyone. Just coronate me now).”

Meanwhile, Nolan Finley of The Detroit News, who normally agrees with Demas on absolutely nothing, is also blasting the Republican governor’s approach to the fall campaign.

In a column last week, Finley described Snyder’s newest TV ad – the one featuring his lower-register voice – this way: “as dull as a valiumed-up dental patient with a message eerily reminiscent of Granholm’s infamous ‘in five years, you’ll be blown away’ pledge.”

On the political talk show MiWeek, Finley added this: “The governor's response to the Schauer attack ads have been weak. His entire campaign has been sort of disjointed, not aggressive enough, not strong enough. The governor needs to stand out and say here's where you were four years ago, here's where you are today and here's where we're going. And that other guy, he'd take you back to where you were.And he's failed to do that effectively. His campaign ads have been as bad as any I've ever seen. This race should not be this close."

Hmmm. Nolan Finley blasting a Republican governor twice in one week. What’s next – Snyder riding in a tank?