Friday, May 06, 2011

Another One Bites the Dust: GOP Still Can’t Find Top Candidate against Stabenow


From Michigan Democratic Party

LANSING – With Terri Lynn Land out of the race, will the GOP be able get any candidates who are “head and shoulders” (in the words of GOP Chairman Bobby Schostak) above the rest to take on U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2012? Today’s announcement that Terri Lynn Land is not running is news that National Journal says “rob[s] Republicans of an opportunity to recruit a strong challenger to Stabenow and up[s] the pressure on the Michigan GOP to produce a competitive candidate for 2012.” 

National Journal reports that Land’s decision not to run was based largely on the fact that national Republicans realize Stabenow’s strength and are not making Michigan a priority: “
Sources close to Land said she never felt reassured by national Republicans that Michigan was a high priority, and worried that she would enter the general election against a well-funded Democratic incumbent lacking both financial and organizational support from the GOP establishment. Sources say that had she felt confident in receiving the support of national Republican groups she would have been more likely to enter the race.”

Last month Republican front-runner  Pete Hoekstra also announced he would not enter the race.
 

“It’s not surprising that top candidates do not want to challenge Debbie Stabenow,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer. “Debbie Stabenow is getting results on issues important to Michigan families like supporting small businesses, growing our agriculture industry, standing up to China’s unfair trade policies and stopping Asian Carp.  She is in a very strong position so it’s not a surprise that Republicans are having trouble finding a top tier candidate willing to run against her.”


Debbie Stabenow is an effective leader for Michigan, achieving results on issues critically important to Michigan families.  As Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture committee, Sen. Stabenow is helping to strengthen Michigan’s 2nd largest industry, agriculture.  She has passed important legislation to cut taxes and reduce paperwork for Michigan’s small businesses.  She is one of the country’s most prominent 
leaders in the fight to prosecute China for unfair trade practices and standing up to their currency manipulation that kills Michigan manufacturing jobs.  She’s working to create jobs in high-tech manufacturing like advanced batteries and new vehicle technology.  And she is leading the effort to stop Asian Carp from invading the Great Lakes and stop Canadian trash from packing Michigan’s landfills.

Senator Stabenow is a skilled campaigner who has never lost to a Republican opponent.  She works hard every day and has never taken voters for granted.  Senator Stabenow is in an extremely strong position heading into the campaign, having raised over $5 million already for the 2012 race.  Facing a strong incumbent, the GOP is floundering in its effort to find a serious candidate to enter the race.

“It’s no wonder Republicans are struggling to find someone to run against Senator Stabenow,” continued Brewer. “Recently, GOP Chairman Bobby Schostak said he hoped a candidate who was ‘head and shoulders’ above the rest of the field would enter the race–and that was when Hoekstra and Land were still possible contenders. If the Chairman of the Republican Party thought the field was weak before, imagine how he feels now that the party’s top two contenders have shied away from the challenge.”

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