Posted on 03/15/2014 11:10:15 PM PDT by Libloather
Democrats are facing their toughest Michigan Senate fight in two decades.
A sour national political climate, a little-known candidate and big spending by conservative outside groups have given Republicans a real shot at winning an open seat and boosted their chances at seizing Senate control.
Republicans had all but written off the Democratic-leaning state last summer after they failed to recruit either Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) or Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) to run, leaving them with former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land (R) as their nominee.
But President Obama’s dismal poll numbers, millions spent by conservative groups and Land’s high name recognition compared to Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) have given her a small lead in most recent public polling.
Land is also building a big campaign warchest, and has $3.4 million to Peters’s $2.9 million. Michigan also behaves a lot more like a swing state in midterm elections than presidential years.
“The race is close. It will be close. Off-year elections here are often close,” says Michigan-based pollster Ed Sarpolus.
Some Democrats are nervous.
“This is a national race. If we lose Michigan, it's over for us controlling the Senate,” said one Democrat involved in the race. “This race has become more competitive… We have to take this campaign to a different level now.”
Democrats also worry privately about infighting between the state’s unions, which Democrats rely on more in Michigan than anywhere else, and former Rep. Mark Schauer’s (D-Mich.) struggling gubernatorial campaign.
Most believe the race is still Peters’s to lose, however. No Republican has won a Senate race in Michigan since 1994, and Democrats think Land’s small edge in the polls is due mostly to her position as former statewide official. They say when both sides begin spending in earnest Peters will bounce back.
Americans for Prosperity, a group backed by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch, has already spent $2 million blasting Peters for his ObamaCare support.
Those attacks went unanswered for two months until the pro-Democratic Senate Majority PAC launched $450,000 worth of ads tying Land to the Koch brothers in late February. Democrats admit the ads hurt Peters some in the polls, and served as a wake-up call for donors and activists in the state.
“The Kochs beating up Gary was a big deal,” said the Michigan Democratic strategist. “This race is absolutely in a different place than it was before… For the first time people are saying 'this is going to be more work than we thought.’”
President Obama’s approval rating and ObamaCare’s early struggles are also taking a toll. Obama’s approval rating has hovered slightly above 40 percent in most polls in a state he won by 9 percentage points in 2012.
Peters recently replaced his campaign manager, bringing in Paul Tencher, a well-regarded Democratic tactician who helped Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) pull off his come-from-behind 2012 win.
Tencher, who’s leaving the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, acknowledged the high stakes.
“Michigan is an important state. It's a real middle-class place that Democrats fight for and is essential to our mission,” he told The Hill. “And keeping the majority is a very important thing, not only for Americans but for working-class people here in Michigan.”
Peters has been hitting Land for the Koch ads, attacking her for supporting a new Michigan law that bars insurance companies from covering abortion in most cases, and ripping her for opposing the auto bailout many in Michigan believe helped Michigan avoid major job losses.
Land’s campaign plans to rip Peters for his support of Obama’s priorities, including ObamaCare, climate change legislation and the stimulus.
“The number one thing in Michigan is jobs and the economy, and Congressman Peters's record is riddled with expensive, failed economic policies like the stimulus bill,” says Land spokeswoman Heather Swift. “Terri, as a mom and a small business owner, has the right ideas for Michigan families.
The race could hinge on how well Land presents herself when the race engages in earnest and she comes under closer scrutiny. She has kept a very low profile, mostly avoiding the press, and when she has talked publicly has committed minor gaffes.
“She misspeaks,” Sarpolus said. “For the last several months they have been hiding Terri Lynn Land, they haven't been putting her out there and letting her speak. She has a history of making misstatements.”
Adding to the drum beat against any Dem /Obamacare in Michigan will be Terry Bowman as he runs against Debbie Dingell.
Terry noted on an interview on WAAM yesterday this seat is not a "Monarchy" and I think he said they will take his campaign national aka Obamacare.
As an armchair observer of political fights I'll say this will be a race to watch.
“If you like your Marxists, you can keep your Marxist, but if you are a Conservative, you’ll have to replace him with a Marxist” -B. H. Obama
John Dingell (right) looks on approvingly as Obama signs
"The Big Effin' Deal"---now known as "The Big Effin" Debacle."
====================================================
Retiring John Dingle's much-younger blonde wife seeking his seat,
could be tagged "Delerious Debbie".....crazy for Obamacare. LOL.
M/M Dingell.....she vuluptuous in strapless red....he can hardly walk.
While Rogers is a good campaigner, Dave Camp would have lost this seat Pete Hoekstra style. He's Mr. Debt Ceiling.
Land's won twice statewide and a hard working candidate. I'm not as active as others, but even I've met her and I live on the other side of the state.
and when she has talked publicly has committed minor gaffes. “She misspeaks,” Sarpolus said.
So says the current or former spokesman of the MEA.
Terri Land is a pro and not gaffe prone that I’m aware of.
I think she’s a lot like Ruth Johnson in the sense that he integrity grows a lot of respect among democrats who know her.
But I do hope that the unions and Rats pour millions into this race because even if Peters pulls it out, that will be less money to spend on other close races.
I’ll bet that Rats were not expecting this seat to be competitive.
Good.
Exactly, but the media have a tough fight ahead this time.
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