Bisbee gains Chamber of Commerce endorsement (7th District Congress, Michigan)

AP ^ | 5-10-04

[Dan from Michigan]

Bisbee gains Chamber of Commerce endorsement

The Associated Press
5/10/2004, 5:49 p.m. ET

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — State Rep. Clark Bisbee has received the endorsement of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce's federal political action committee over five other Republican candidates in the race for a conservative congressional seat in southern Michigan.

"Clark Bisbee has the campaign skills, political base and work ethic to win the August Republican primary," chamber President and CEO James Barrett said in a news release. He praised Bisbee for being "pro-business, pro-jobs and pro-taxpayer."

It was the second influential endorsement for Bisbee in two weeks. Late last month, Right to Life of Michigan endorsed him over other GOP candidates hoping for the group's endorsement.

Tuesday is the deadline for those running to file. Six Republicans have said they plan to run for the 7th District congressional seat now held by U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, R-Addison.

The candidates include Smith's son, attorney Brad Smith; state Rep. Gene DeRossett; former state Reps. Paul DeWeese and Tim Walberg; former state Sen. John "Joe" Schwarz; and Bisbee.

Some candidates said earlier they might drop out after Right to Life made its endorsement, but as of Monday, all planned to stay in the race.

In making its endorsement, the Chamber of Commerce said Bisbee has supported the chamber's position on bills 89 percent of the time during his nearly six years in the state House.

It also noted that Bisbee's campaign has attracted the highest number of individual contributors within the 7th District and the most in contributions from business PACS.

Bisbee has raised fewer dollars than DeRossett, DeWeese and Brad Smith, according to their latest campaign finance filings.

[Dan from Michigan]

I know that Bisbee was always a favorite of the Chamber, and with the RTL endorsement, I saw this coming a mile away. No one like Schwarz, and he's target 1. RTL picks Bisbee, as does the Chamber. The NRA will likely follow for the trifecta. (Although Nugent backed DeRossett, and Club for Growth backed Brad Smith)

The NRA has always given Bisbee breaks despite his anti-gun concealed carry vote. I expect them to follow there. I don't live in his district, but he has an awful lot to prove to me. I wish he was as good on the 2nd amendment as he was on taxes. I expect another Nick Smith there.

The filing deadline is tomorrow, so we'll see if the Dems are going to actually contest by sending an A or even B team candidate, or are they going to send C-teamers. No offense to Drew Walker(hasn't run a major race) and Sharon Reinier(lost a state rep race), but they don't exactly strike fear in the heart of a GOP'er in an open race.

[Dan from Michigan]

The latest.

[Dan from Michigan]

District By the numbers

Eaton County(all) - 49272 voters - Bush won by 1592, 50%(Granholm won it)
Jackson County(all) - 61946 - Bush won by 3906 - 52% Most of Calhoun County - 55080(approx) - Gore won by 1447 - 50%(Two GOP townships in another district)
Branch County - 15783 - Bush won by 2052 - 55%
Hillsdale County - 17473 - Bush won by 3988 - 60%
Lenawaee County - 40093 - Bush by 2316(dem state rep) - 52%
Part of Washtenaw County(approx) - 42548 - Bush by 2214 - 51% (Most bad areas in Dingell's district)

Areas Gore won(Bush won all the rest)
Eaton:
Lansing(SW part - poorest section) by 1004 - 78%
Eaton Rapids by 326 - 50%

Jackson:
Jackson City by 2172 - 58%
Leoni Township by 229 - 51%

Calhoun:
Albion by 1238 - 70%
Battle Creek by 1718 - 53%
Bedford Township by 328 - 53%
Springfield by 280 - 57%

Lenawee:
Adrian City by 821 - 54%
Clinton Township by 25 - 49%

Washtenaw:
Scio Township (part?) by 870 - 53%
Sylvan Township by 25 - 48%

[Dan from Michigan]

MAP

[AuH2ORepublican]

Dan, even if Bisbee isn't perfect, we need to rally around a single conservative in order to defeat Schwarz. I think it's about time for DeRossett, Smith and the minister whose name eludes me to think about dropping out.

[krb_48823]

Clark Bisbee will not win the 7th Congressional District primary. The RTL and MI Chamber endorsements mean nothing in this race now. These endorsements were supposed to weed out the field from 6 candidate to 2 and did it? Heck no. There were far better candidates in this race that should have got those endorsements, but RTL and MI Chamber only want a "yes man" in this seat to follow orders blindly.

[robgop79]

The other three candidates are not getting out of the race for one reason: RTL endorsed the weakest candidate. Bisbee is a puppet of the Chamber and has run a lackluster campaign since day one.

The heavy's at the Chamber front-loaded the RTL endorsement by threatening to give the Chamber endorsement to Schwarz unless RTL endorsed there choice, Bisbee. This is unheard of, and has upset quite a few RTL board members who have since resigned.

All six candidates will file today - much to RTL's demise. RTL basically sold-out their membership to the Chamber, rather than endorse the strongest pro-life candidate (arguably DeRossett and Smith in that order).

This is going to come down to the 2nd Amendment voters who will hopefully out number the RTL votes!