Michigan GOP Primary

Michigan GOP Primary, Here’s what Michigan Republicans are hearing over and over as they prepare to vote Tuesday in the state’s crucial GOP presidential primary: Mitt Romney’s an elitist insider who loves Wall Street. Rick Santorum is a fake who talks one way but voted another.

The candidate-bashing by the rival campaigns and their allies has been relentless, as the race between Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, and Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, remains too close to call.

“It’s going to be a real nail-biter,” said Bill Ballenger, the editor of Inside Michigan Politics, a nonpartisan newsletter.

Romney has a 1.5 percentage-point lead in an average of surveys conducted Sunday, according to the website RealClearPolitics. Arizona also holds a primary Tuesday, and Romney has a comfortable lead in polls there.

But Michigan is the pivotal battleground. Romney, who grew up in the Detroit area, has touted himself as a hometown candidate. He’s been trying hard, through advertising and stump speeches, to define Santorum as unfaithful to his core principles.

But it’s not clear that his negative, scorched-earth strategy, which played a big role in toppling Newt Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, in Florida’s primary Jan. 31, is working in Michigan.

Santorum has gained a following with his strong conservative social-values message and down-to-earth style. In a state where the December unemployment rate was 9.3 percent and the auto industry has been ailing for decades, Santorum gets cheers by branding Romney as an out-of-touch patrician.

Everyone is going negative.

Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who’s been waging a spirited campaign in Michigan in recent days but is running third in polls, has an ad that tars Santorum as a “fake” fiscal conservative.

“Is this dude serious?” a narrator asks. “Fiscal conservative? Really?”

Romney and his backers push the same theme. Restore Our Future, a group formed by his wealthy donors, is running a spot that ends by calling Santorum a big-spending Washington insider.

Its evidence: five Santorum votes to raise the debt ceiling. Support of budget legislation that included family-planning funds and earmarks, which are local projects that lawmakers insert into spending bills. Santorum has said that such projects are vital to his state, but tea party activists abhor them as evidence of out-of-control spending.

Santorum has had help making his case this week, from supporters in the Red White and Blue political action committee – and President Barack Obama’s campaign.

Santorum is running ads with a reminder, “Romney adviser admits Romneycare was blueprint for Obamacare.” In his speeches, Santorum blasts Romney as an elitist who used to be a moderate.

Hansen Clarke

Hansen Clarke, State Sen. Hansen Clarke made a surprising upset victory Tuesday night over seven-term Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick.

State Sen. Hansen Clarke made a surprising upset victory Tuesday night over seven-term Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick. With 53% of the results of the district in general, Clarke had a 48% -39% lead over the incumbent, who was first elected to Congress in 1996.

Cheeks Kilpatrick, went down in the elevator at 12:24 am at the Doubletree-Fort Shelby in downtown Detroit, entered the banquet room and quickly gave his concession speech.

“I am here tonight grantor. We did not win the election.’m Going to be a slave and keep doing that. There were six candidates in this race. Unfortunately, they did two and that’s fine. God is in charge.

“I will continue to serve and represent, and wish you well Mr Clarke. Thanks for waiting. I love you all. I could not have done this without you and may God continue to bless us and keep us strong. Thank you all.”

He stepped back in the elevator at 12:26 a.m.

Rick Snyder

Rick Snyder, [Washington Post] Auto-finance entrepreneur Rick Snyder (R) will face Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero (D) In the election for governor of Michigan, and Rep. Jerry Moran (R) is very likely to become the next senator from Kansas after defeating fellow Rep. Todd Tiahrt in their primaries.

Meanwhile, Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) became the fourth House incumbent to lose the primaries this year.

Snyder, former president of Gateway, which ran on the slogan “takes a nerd”, came out of nowhere to defeat two experienced politicians. Starts the general election as the favorite.

Bernero, who was backed by labor, won the Democratic nomination in state House Andy Dillon while the upstart Snyder beat Peter Hoekstra and Attorney General Mike Cox for his party’s nod in the seat being opened by the outgoing Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D).

Moran Tiahrt defeated in a battle remarkably difficult for the Republican nomination to succeed Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.). Moran led 49 percent to 45 percent of Tiahrt, who had the backing of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R).

(Interactive: Track records of Sarah Palin)

Brownback, who won his primary for governor Tuesday, also is a heavy favorite in November. Moran facing the college administrator Lisa Johnston (D), while Senator Brownback, faces Tom Holland (D).

Kilpatrick, who nearly lost his primary in 2008, fell to state Sen. Hansen Clarke this time. Kilpatrick has fought in the dealings with the legal problems of his son, sentenced former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (D). She dragged Clarke 48 percent to 41 percent more than half of the constituencies.

She joins three other home owners losing their party’s nomination in a given year against the establishment – Representatives Alan Mollohan (DW.Va.), Parker Griffith (R-Ala.) and Bob Inglis (RS.C.). Senators Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) and Robert Bennett (R-Utah) also lost his party’s nod.

In a third state holding primaries on Tuesday, Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) and Rep. Roy Blunt (R) will meet in the open race in the state Senate as expected after both easily won their primaries.

Blunt sent aligned Tea Party Senator Chuck Purgason (R), having more than two thirds of the votes. Carnahan did not face major opposition in his primary and won easily.

The seat is widely regarded as a coin toss, Senator Kit Bond (R-Mo.) retiring at the end of this Congress.

Also in Missouri, former state Rep. Vicky Hartzler won the Republican nomination to face long Rep. Ike Skelton (D), while the businessman Billy Long won a race full GOP and is likely to succeed Blunt.

In Michigan, former Rep. Tim Walberg (R) won his rematch with Rep. Mark Schauer freshman (D) in a House race up after Walberg defeated (R-Fla.) Rep. Tom Rooney’s brother, Brian , in a primary.

State Rep. Justin Amash won the GOP primary to retire (Rep. Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich.) District and will face Democratic attorney Pat Miles, while former state Rep. Rocky Raczkowski had a wide lead in primaries Republican Party to face freshman Rep. Gary Peters (D-Michigan).

GOP primaries in districts Hoekstra and Rep. Bart Stupak removed from (D-Michigan) were too close.

In Kansas, (D) retiring Rep. Dennis Moore wife, Stephene, will face state Rep. Kevin Yoder (R) in a key pickup opportunity for Republicans.

State Rep. Tim Huelskamp Republican National Committee and will likely replace Mike Pompeo Moran and Tiahrt, respectively, after winning his Republican primary in the dark red areas.

In addition, a ballot measure in Missouri trying to cancel part of the health bill was recently passed through Congress a large margin, with nearly three quarters of the votes. Proposition C would allow Missouri residents to opt for individual coverage mandate and laws passed by legislatures in other states mirrors.

Michigan Primary Results 2010

Michigan Primary Results 2010, [Washington Post] President Obama spoke to a tele-town hall on behalf of Senator Michael Bennett (D-Colo.) yesterday night, the latest sign that the White House is very concerned by the possibility that their preferred candidate losing his growing state rival, former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D) in the August 10 primary.

Bennet “has been a breath of fresh air in a city with a lot of hot air” Obama told 21,000 supporters who joined in the call. The president said that over the past 18 months, Bennet “has become the launch man to reform America’s public schools in Congress and has faced the health insurance companies, shipping companies work abroad and overlapping the credit card companies.

Obama also said “there has been a lot of negative publicity against Michael running in recent weeks, which is a kind of politics as usual.”

He closed his speech five minutes telling his supporters that “Michael is one who has advocated on behalf of you, and have to defend on their behalf at this time.”

The intervention of the White House comes as polls show pulling even with Bennett Romanoff After trailing by double digits as recently as two months ago. Romanoff place is all the more impressive considering that Bennett has been reduced almost to 5.8 million in its bid to date, more than three times Romanoff and 1.7 million invested. (In a further sign of a desperate situation Bennet camp, the senator lent itself to 300,000 over the weekend, Romanoff, meanwhile, sold his house in an effort to provide an extra 325,000 and a jolt to your offer in the final weeks of the primary campaign.)

The TV room, the city is not the first time Obama has spoken on behalf of Bennet. In February, the President hosted three fundraisers in Denver. It also appears in a television ad Bennet camp released last week.

A recent Denver Post poll showed that Obama’s approval rating has fallen 38 percent in Colorado, although it remains at 72 percent among Democrats. Bennet A loss would not only be a blow to the White House, but also would call into question what it means an endorsement of Obama for Democratic candidates this cycle – even the candidates in the Democratic primaries, where the president remains popular.

(A factor further complicating the race is the fact that former President Bill Clinton has expressed support for Romanoff and has written an e-mail fundraising in his name.)

Meanwhile, Romanoff e-mailed to supporters the night trying to clarify his position on accepting PAC money. He said he has asked the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (which is backing Bennet) to “exclude any dollar PAC contributions or making expenditures” in its own name if he wins the Democratic endorsement. In an unorthodox move, Romanoff including the phone number of your house because, as he said, Colorado, “deserve a senator who will answer your questions, and frankly as often as possible.”

strengthening the role of Obama in the race is presented as his presidential rival in 2008 is involved as well: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will visit Colorado on Saturday to hold two events for former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, who in a hard-fought primary against District Attorney Ken Buck Weld County.

2. It was another night (at least few) foreign trio of Tuesday’s primary, businessman Rick Snyder with victory in the GOP primary for governor and Michigan (D-Mich.) primary loss to Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick head.

Republicans believe they have another rising star in Snyder, a former Gateway president who ran under the slogan “a tough nerd.” The self-funded his way to prominence in the race and then defeated two experienced politicians – Rep. Peter Hoekstra, and Attorney General Mike Cox – by 10 points.

Also in Michigan, the loss of Kilpatrick was called early Wednesday. In the end, it was undone in large part by the problems of his son, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (D), and bordered by a capable opponent in State Senator Hansen Clarke (D).

Kilpatrick became the fourth member of Congress House and sixth overall to lose a party nomination. But she is the first time since mid-June.

Hoekstra, meanwhile, became the latest member of Congress to lose the primary for governor less established politician, joining the Congressmen Gresham Barrett (RS.C.) and Artur Davis (D-Ala.) in that regard .

Other headlines included a scare Congress Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who each took about 57 percent of the vote against underfinanced opponents. They join hundreds of other House members who have given large chunks of the vote unheralded opponents in the primaries.

But while Snyder and Clarke win the tent was removed Tuesday was as usual for the establishment in Missouri and Kansas Senate races, and elections for governor of Kansas. Members of Congress will run on the GOP side in all three races, while the daughter of a former governor of Missouri – Secretary of State Robin Carnahan – carry the Democratic flag in that key state Senate elections.

3. A new poll shows Senate Majority Harry Reid is leading his Republican rival, former Nevada Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, but the Democrats are at a significant disadvantage in terms of voter enthusiasm.

Angle Reid takes 52 percent to 36 percent among registered voters within the Reuters / Ipsos poll. When only likely voters are studied, however, that gap narrowed to just four points – 48 percent to 44 percent – and within the margin of 4.6 points from the survey error.

The poll shows Reid beating angle between the independents – it takes 36 percent to 19 percent of Angle, by far – 37 percent – were undecided. Nearly two thirds of respondents said that the recent visit of President Obama to the state on behalf of Reid made no difference to them, so similar, 60 percent said Angle’s ties to the tea party “movement “does not affect them.

Angulo has been working very hard to Reid for his long tenure in the Senate. In a recent appearance at the Republican Men’s Club of Nevada, Angulo said that “despite what people say about this most powerful man Harry Reid has not used his power for our benefit.”

But the survey results show that it is a way to go in convincing independents: 49 percent of independents surveyed said they considered Reid’s position as majority leader as good, while only 33 percent said it was a bad thing.

The survey comes as both campaigns are launching a new round of television commercials. Reid slams new Angle field in the oil spill in the Gulf, saying that she wants to abolish the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, but also seizes Angulo comments made last month in which he called to account BP escrow to a slush fund. “(Angle later retracted the comment.)

Angle’s latest ad blames Reid of Nevada property values plummeting. “Harry Reid: the only thing that has delivered for Nevada is hardship,” says the narrator of the ad, which also accuses Reid of “Cleaning the retirement savings of people at night.”

4.Fresh season was a weekend in Iowa – his fourth visit to the state this cycle – Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) continued its efforts for 2010 candidates Tuesday, with a fundraiser for California Minneapolis Senate candidate and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina (R).

Fiorina Pawlenty met while both were acting as surrogates for Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) 2008 presidential bid, according to an adviser Fiorina. The two hosted a tele-town hall and the event together in Minnesota and also spent some time together in the McCain campaign bus. Pawlenty Fiorina mentioned in a Christian Science Monitor breakfast in Washington last week as one of several candidates who represent the cycle of the next generation of Republican leaders.

In addition to celebrating yesterday fundraiser Minneapolis Club, the governor of Minnesota and the potential of hope 2012 is expected to contribute to 3000 the supply of Fiorina.

Exact figures on the amount collected to come, but yesterday’s event are sure to give impetus to Fiorina, who has fallen behind Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) in the money race. Boxer and took in 4.6 million in the second quarter to 11 million and had a hand from late June. Fiorina raised to 2.3 million the same period and had 950 000 and the hand (although she also has considerable personal wealth in the call).

Pawlenty event occurs after several other potential 2012 candidate – Former Governor Sarah Palin Alaska (R) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), to name a few – were approved and Fiorina. Of these, the approval of Palin was perhaps the most fundamental: the former governor of Alaska approved in May Fiorina, while still in the midst of a contentious primary battle.

5. A recent survey shows that previously untargeted Republican Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.) in some real problems in this cycle, leading his Republican opponent by just two points.

The survey of Public Opinion Strategies for state committee party’s victory shows main Hare Schilling only 33 percent to 31 percent, Green Party candidate Roger Davis having a 7 per cent.

The post is largely a blank slate for voters, the poll found. He is shown with a favorable rating of 33 percent, compared with 21 percent unfavorable. Only 25 percent of voters say Hare deserves to be reelected, while 46 percent say they want someone else.

Pollster Glen Bolger goes so far as to say Hare is “one of the most vulnerable owners in the country” and that it is difficult to see how you win.

Although Hare comes from a somewhat marginal western district of Illinois – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) won with 51 percent of the vote in 2004 – has not even appeared in the lower layers of the majority of the target Republican People’s Party lists this cycle. Republicans are not seriously compete for the job in 2006 when he won, and was unopposed last cycle.

Hare’s political director, Maggie Depoorter, said the poll lacked credibility.

“The only surprise of this survey is that someone claims is a serious look at the state of the race in District 17,” said Depoorter. “With nearly 30 percent undecided, this is the second poll released by the Schilling camp that this is not worth the paper it is written.”