GOP Recycling Hoekstra for Senate, Even Though Originally Seen as Inadequate

From Michigan Democratic Party

LANSING—The Michigan GOP’s floundering effort to find a candidate to run against Debbie Stabenow for U.S. Senate took another bizarre turn over the weekend, as news reports revealed Republican leaders were working to convince Pete Hoekstra–a candidate party leaders once considered inadequate–to go back on his decision not to run.

Last March, when potential Republican candidates considering a run included former congressman and current Washington lobbyist Hoekstra, Michigan GOP Chairman Bobby Schostak told the Detroit News that he was hopeful that a much stronger candidate, one who was “head and shoulders” above Hoekstra and the rest of the current field, would enter the race.  Now that Republicans have failed to find a serious candidate Republican leaders have apparently decided they may have to settle for Hoekstra.

Reporting on this news, Politico wrote Friday: “Hoekstra has a reputation as a weak fundraiser and was stung by his loss in the 2010 gubernatorial primary.  Nevertheless, the fact that he’s reconsidering indicates the problems Republicans are having recruiting a top candidate in the Midwestern battleground state.” (More publications on Hoekstra’s weakness as a candidate below).

“First Republicans said they wanted someone much stronger than Hoekstra, now they’ve decided they may have to make do with him,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer.  “Hoekstra is seen as a lackluster campaigner and fundraiser, as evidenced by his failed run for governor last year.  Even with new candidates announcing they were getting in the race last week, Republicans are looking at their field and deciding once-inadequate Hoekstra may be the best they can come up with.”

Hoekstra is not only seen as a lackluster campaigner, but also has a long record of consistently voting against Michigan families while simultaneously voting for special giveaways for special interests.  Hoekstra supported President George W. Bush’s failed plan to privatize Social Security, taking seniors’ benefits and risking them on Wall Street.  He supported Paul Ryan’s 2009 budget plan to end Medicare.  And while representing the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country, Hoekstra voted to completely end unemployment insurance benefits for thousands of Michigan residents laid-off through no fault of their own.  But while voting to cut middle class seniors and families, he voted against limiting the billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bonuses bailed out executives were awarding themselves.

State and national observers have suggested that Stabenow’s ability to achieve results on issues important to Michigan families and her record of winning elections have dissuaded top candidates from entering the race.  As Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Stabenow is helping to strengthen Michigan agriculture, the state’s 2nd largest industry.  She is also a prominent leader on stopping other countries’ unfair trade practices, working to create jobs in high-tech manufacturing like advanced batteries and fighting to stop Asian and Canadian trash from ruining Michigan’s natural resources.

Senator Stabenow is a skilled campaigner who has never lost to a Republican opponent.  She is in an extremely strong position heading into the campaign, with over $4 million on hand for the 2012 race.  Facing a strong incumbent, the GOP is floundering in its effort to find a serious candidate to enter the race.

What People Are Saying About Pete Hoekstra:

Hoekstra “Weak Fundraiser.” Politico wrote, “Hoekstra has a reputation as a weak fundraiser and was stung by his loss in the 2010 gubernatorial primary.” [Politico, 7/15/2011]

Hoekstra “Lackluster Fundraiser.” According to the Detroit Free Press, Hoekstra has a “reputation as a lackluster fundraiser who was relatively unknown outside his west Michigan base.” [Detroit Free Press, 8/4/2010]

Hoekstra Has Virtually No Michigan Base From Which to Build a Campaign or Fundraise. In 2010, Hoekstra’s campaign suffered “by joining the race from Washington…he had no natural statewide organization from which to raise money or build a campaign.” [Detroit Free Press, 7/25/2010]

Hoekstra: One of Weakest Fundraisers in 2010 Governor’s Race. According to the Hotline, in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary, “Hoekstra’s emphasized the time he has spent in the state more than the dollars he’s put up behind his relatively few TV ads, as he’s proven one of the weaker fundraisers in the race.” [National Journal’s Hotline, 8/3/2010]

Hoekstra Suffered From “Lack of Campaign Cash.” In the 2010 governor’s race Hoekstra suffered from “a lack of campaign cash that has limited his ability to counter early attack ads with his own campaign spots.”  [National Journal’s Hotline, 7/20/2010]