Eye on 2010 - Congressman's Brother Vs. Rancher Vs. Ex-Congressman

CQ Politics ^ | 11-10-09 | Emily Cadei

[Darren McCarty]

A lively three-way Republican primary is taking shape in Michigan, where attorney Brian Rooney, who made his candidacy official on Thursday, is running against former Rep. Tim Walberg and rancher-real estate investor Marvin Carlson.

The winner of the GOP primary will face Rep. Mark Schauer next November.

The prospect of taking on Democrat Schauer is pretty inviting to Republicans in the 7th District, which includes the cities of Battle Creek and Jackson. Another GOP prospect has been considering getting in the race, too -- Bill Martin, CEO of the Michigan Association of Realtors. However, sources on the ground say Martin is leaning against a run.

Even before Rooney officially announced, the Walberg camp was dismissing him as a carpetbagger for only recently moving into the district.

Rooney, the brother of Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., acknowledges that he has been living in Wayne County, to the east of the district border, and says he has lived in Michigan for a little more than three years after service as a U.S. Marine which had him moving "all around the country and world."

[Darren McCarty]

Tim Walberg was screwed by the NRCC. He was abandoned from the start in 2008 and lost by 2% as an incumbent. If he had any help whatsoever, he would have won.

Asides from that, Tim was a state representative from a now democratic held district near Adrian for 16 years. He won in the 2006 primary over a RINO in Joe Schwarz and won the general election that year.

Tim is a true conservative in this social conservative district, and Schauer does whatever Pelosi will tell him to do.

As for Rooney, he should run for office in Wayne County where he lives. Most people in this district outside of the small Ann Arbor area townships in this district, will not vote for a Detroit area candidate. They do not like Detroit. All of the state senate races are open in 2010. All except one state representative in Wayne County is democrat. Unless he lives in Livonia, he has a democrat state rep. I don't know anything about Carlson.

Tim lives in this district, and has for years. He's won before, and should take this spot back for us. Tim did a good job here, and has my vote.

[Cicero]

Yes. Tim Wahlberg is a great conservative. As you say, he got screwed by the RINOs IN CHARGE.

I sent him a donation.

[cripplecreek]

Walberg has my vote.

[SunkenCiv]

The prospect of taking on Democrat Schauer is pretty inviting to Republicans in the 7th District, which includes the cities of Battle Creek and Jackson. Another GOP prospect has been considering getting in the race, too -- Bill Martin, CEO of the Michigan Association of Realtors. However, sources on the ground say Martin is leaning against a run. Even before Rooney officially announced, the Walberg camp was dismissing him as a carpetbagger for only recently moving into the district. Rooney, the brother of Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., acknowledges that he has been living in Wayne County, to the east of the district border, and says he has lived in Michigan for a little more than three years after service as a U.S. Marine which had him moving "all around the country and world."

[fieldmarshaldj]

Walberg has earned the right to a rematch.

[cripplecreek]

Its more than a little disengenuous for him to claim he moved here because veterans move around a lot after saying he was recruited by the NRCC.

Rooney: NRCC Recruited Me In 7th Former Marine Maj. Brian ROONEY tells MIRS the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) recruited him to run in the 7th Congressional District, making for an interesting GOP primary against former U.S. Rep. Tim WALBERG (R-Tipton).

"Yeah, they did, actually. (The NRCC) called me up," Rooney said Friday

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It should also be noted that he is seeking the endorsement of uber RINO Joe Schwarz. Al look at his brother's voting record might not be a bad idea either. Also interesting is that his uncle Dan Rooney was appointed ambassador to Ireland by Obama after endorsing and raising money for Obama.

The most disturbing thing over all is the fact that the NRCC is attempting to manipulate a primary race. Apparently they feel that we aren't smart enough to choose our own candidate.

[grellis]

If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

the 7th District, which includes the cities of Battle Creek and Jackson.

That's a tough row to hoe. Heavy Union influence throughout with small pockets of econmically devastated cities; meaning they will vote for whoever promises them the most welfare "freebies".

Both counties were Blue in 2008 and I don't see a change on the horizon.

[cripplecreek]

Both counties were Blue in 2008 and I don't see a change on the horizon.

08 was an unusual year due to the influence of the arrival of the messiah. The 7th is a traditionally conservative leaning district.

Mark Schauer has himself admitted that he faces a far tougher fight in a year without Obama.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Just touching on my old stomping grounds of Calhoun and Jackson Counties;

BC and Jacktown as well as their “suburbs” are beholding to the CMS union thugs. And ostensibly, greater than 50% of the votes cast will be from these two “metro” areas.

My hometown, Albion, is what?, 75% welfare right now. Parma? Olivet? Welfare recipients conssitently vote Dem.

[cripplecreek]

In 139 years, the 7th district has been in democrat hands exactly 37 years. Also there’s the fact that I and MANY others who have been or are in unions don’t vote democrat.