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MACKINAC ISLAND -- With new polls showing the heir-apparent to Gov. Jennifer Granholm struggling to gain traction in the face of strong Republican challengers, Lt. Gov. John Cherry is skipping an open forum in favor of holding closed-door fund-raisers with lobbyists and special interests.

Cherry, who is facing no declared opposition for the Democratic Party's nomination for governor in 2010, has made headlines after announcing he wouldn't partake in the Detroit Regional Chamber's forum with 2010 gubernatorial candidates.

On Wednesday, two polls were released that raise new concerns about Cherry's candidacy.

Despite being Granholm's lieutenant for eight years, the former state senator is having difficulty locking up voter support.

An EPIC/MRA poll for The Detroit News reports that a shocking 51 percent of self-identified Democrats are undecided on supporting Cherry.

At the same time, only 31 percent of Republican voters were undecided -- though the GOP field of candidates includes Attorney General Mike Cox, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, Congressman Pete Hoekstra, and Sen. Tom George.

Cox, Land, Hoekstra, and George will join Democratic Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith at the forum, while Cherry hides from voters, apparently unwilling to defend the Granholm-Cherry administration's record to a crowd of growing skeptics.