A possible statewide ballot proposal could go before Michigan voters next November that could have an impact on the race for governor, even though the issue itself deals with abortion.

This past week, four decidedly pro-choice groups filed petition language with the state, signaling their intention to collect signatures to preserve the right to an abortion in Michigan if the U.S. Supreme Court later this year peels away part of that right or eliminates it all together.

The goal, according to the filing is to, “reaffirm a fundamental right to reproductive freedom.”

No one can recall a pre-emptive petition drive based on a what if. Nonetheless, the Michigan chapter for the ACLU, Michigan Planned Parenthood, along with Michigan Voices and Reproductive Freedom for All are not going to sit around hoping against hope that, somehow, the high court leaves the Roe v. Wade ruling intact.

Michigan Right to Life wasted little time denouncing the proposed effort, calling it “disappointing” and aimed at repealing a 1931 Michigan law that would kick in to ban abortions if the Supreme Court ruled the way Right to Life wants.

Watching all this with more than a passing interest is Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who ran on a pro-choice platform three years ago and will again this year.

Her interest is two-fold: Most importantly for her, she strongly believes in women’s right to choose, but, secondly, if the issue gets to the statewide ballot, it could influence the outcome of her race against whomever the pro-life Republicans run against her.

More on that shortly.

On Dec. 22, before anyone knew about the pro-choice effort, the governor was asked about preserving women’s right to choose, knowing full well that the GOP and pro-life-dominated Legislature would never cooperate with her to do it if the federal law was overturned.

“I know that’s not going to happen,” she reflected the obvious.

So, if that is the case governor, what about a petition drive?

She noted that, if Roe was tossed out, “we will do everything we can to secure the right here, and that may include a petition drive.”

That was news, because she never said that before, but she also made it clear the issue was premature and “amorphous,” and then said this: “I am not spearheading that conversation,” but, as a woman and a mother of two young women, the issue “is important to me on all these fronts.”

The guessing money in town says that Whitmer will not lead the effort to gather over 425,000 signatures to nail a spot on the fall statewide ballot, but she may be at the front of the line to sign it.

Having that emotional issue on the ballot has the potential to drive voters to the polls. You can rest assured Right to Life will marshal its passionate members to show up, but, if the polling data is accurate, there are not enough of them to counteract the larger mass of pro-choice voters, including many women in the all-important suburbs. Last time, they helped to elect Joe Biden president.

Whitmer knows women will play a pivotal part in deciding the next governor, and her hope is that her forces come out for the ballot plan and hang around just long enough to plunk for her also. It’s a political two-fer that could get her four more years.