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Republican challenger Rocky Raczkowski has the lead over first-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Gary Peters in the 9th congressional district, an independent weekly tracking poll released Wednesday indicates. The automated poll conducted Sept. 13 of 300 likely voters in the 9th congressional district and 400 likely voters statewide has Raczkowski at 45 percent and Peters at 40.7 percent with 10.3 percent undecided. The poll was conducted by The Rossman Group in partnership with Team TelCom. Kelly Rossman, CEO and founder of the Lansing-based Rossman Group, says Raczkowski is benefiting from the sour mood of voters towards Congress. "It's no secret that...

Former state Rep. Andrew "Rocky" Raczkowski plans to announce his second challenge to Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., on Monday, arguing that a newcomer is needed to help bolster's Michigan's economy and offer bipartisanship. Raczkowski, a 39-year-old Southfield businessman, said he will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Levin because the state has declined in recent years. He said his military service in the U.S. Army Reserves in the Horn of Africa from 2003-04 made him "realize more than ever that partisan politics isn't what's going to get the job done." "This time around, I know what I'm up against, I...

Next year's U.S. Senate race is looking like it could be a rematch between longtime Democratic incumbent Carl Levin and Republican Andrew "Rocky" Raczkowski. Raczkowski spoke briefly Saturday at a Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference luncheon, the usual biennial kickoff for the following year's elections. He didn't commit while he was on the island to running, but says he has set up an exploratory committee and is considering challenging Levin a second time. Another Republican, state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk of Kalamazoo, told The Associated Press by telephone Sunday that he's also considering the race. He said he has received encouragement from...

<p>Democrat Jennifer Granholm is riding strong support from working women, suburbanites and pro-choice voters to a 12-point lead over Republican Dick Posthumus with 18 days to go in Michigan's race for governor, a Detroit News poll shows.</p> <p>The statewide telephone survey of 400 likely voters, taken Monday through Wednesday, shows Granholm ahead 47 percent to 35 percent, with 17 percent of voters still undecided. Green Party candidate Doug Campbell drew 1 percent. The survey has an error margin of plus or minus 5 percentage points.</p>

Levin, Raczkowski debate in Grand Rapids By DEE-ANN DURBIN The Associated Press 10/6/02 8:34 PM GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- The major party candidates for the U.S. Senate highlighted their differences on Iraq, the economy and other issues during an hour-long debate Sunday. Democratic U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and Republican state Rep. Andrew Rocky Raczkowski met for their only televised debate at Grand Valley State University. The taped debate aired on public television stations later Sunday. Levin stressed his experience during a 24-year career in the Senate, often mentioning legislation he had written or sponsored. "I believe my record has...