Kathleen Gray and John Gallagher

Detroit Free Press

In a sure sign that the presidential campaign of Donald Trump believes that Michigan is in play for the 2016 election, the New York businessman is headed to town Monday for a speech to the Detroit Economic Club.

It will be an interesting venue for the controversial politician. Even though he won Michigan's primary election with 36.5% of the vote to 24.7% for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and 24.2% for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the business crowd in Detroit heavily backed other presidential candidates during the primary and none of them have gotten on board with contributions yet to the Trump campaign.

The speech will be held at noon Monday at the Renaissance Center. The meeting is open to members and guests of the Detroit Economic Club. Other candidates who have given speeches to the club have been former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Kasich, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.

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Matt Marsden, a political consultant with RevSix Data of Pontiac, said despite what several pundits are saying, he doubts that Michigan, which has supported the Democrat for president in every election cycle since 1992, is in play this year.

"I'm sure he enjoys a strong base of support, but I think that Michigan has been a Democratic state for a very long time and I’m not sure he’s the candidate to push this into a neck-and-neck race," he said. "The more we hear from him, the worse it gets. This is the most bizarre election year I’ve seen in my 20 years in business."

Trump's other campaign visits to Michigan have been large rallies in Birch Run, the Grand Rapids suburb of Walker, Warren and Cadillac.

The speech comes on the heels of Democratic vce presidential candidate Tim Kaine, who is to speak Friday at the opening of a Democratic coordinated campaign office opening in Grand Rapids. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was last in Michigan in May when she spoke at the NAACP's Fight for Freedom dinner.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430 or kgray99@freepress.com