MARQUETTE -- We've all seen the advertisements, but who should we choose?  The gubernatorial race is still very much up in the air according to some experts.  Many say jobs will be the issue that could determine the election.

"Jobs will be a big issue in this state for some time to come,” said Marquette resident David Allen.  “Obviously either party is going to have to deal with those issues."

The current state of the economy could make victory challenging for Democratic candidates Verg Bernero and Andy Dillon.

"They have to be able to show that they have some new ideas which move beyond what the Granholm Administration has been talking about,” said former Political Science Professor, Bob Kulisheck, “and convince the voters that they are the ones who will be able to lift the Michigan economy out of its current doldrums."

For the five Republican candidates, Mike Bouchard, Mike Cox, Tom George, Pete Hoekstra, and Rick Snyder, their challenge will be to rally voters outside of their base.

"There's a large segment of the population that is relatively independent and non-ideological, so that's the group that they have to really appeal to," Kulisheck said.

Still, with a state that bounces between highest and second highest in unemployment in the U.S., it's likely that voters will choose a candidate they believe will jumpstart Michigan’s suffering economy.

Registered voters should also make sure they are eligible to vote before hitting the booths.  After registering to vote at your local county, city or township clerk's office or your Secretary of State office, you should receive a voter identification card three weeks after registering.  Your voter identification card will list your precinct number and your polling location. 

If you don't receive this card after three weeks, make sure to contact your city or township clerk’s office.

State primaries will be held August 3.