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Republican U.S. Senate primary heats up as super PAC money enters race

By on July 24, 2012 2:47 pm / 4 comments

 

Prosperity for Michigan, an independent political action committee, has spent $275,000 to run ads in support of U.S. Senate candidate Clark Durant and against Republican rival Pete Hoekstra in markets throughout Michigan.

Funded by several Michigan business executives, Prosperity for Michigan is beginning to air ads criticizing Hoekstra for voting for earmarks and raising the debt ceiling as a U.S. Representative. They cast Durant as a better option for conservative Republicans to put up against incumbent Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

“Clark Durant is a true reformer,” an ad released by the Super PAC on Monday said. “Pete Hoekstra can’t fix Washington. He’s part of the problem. Clark Durant will.”

The ad echoed an official Durant commercial that attacked Hoekstra for the same issues. The Prosperity for Michigan ad also pledged that Durant would vote to reign in spending by rejecting debt ceiling increases and voting for spending cuts and against earmarks.

The Hoekstra campaign hit back soon after.

“Unfortunately, Clark Durant has decided to begin desperate attacks after poor fundraising totals, misusing donors’ dollars and his inability to connect with the public,” Hoekstra spokesman Greg VanWoerkom said.

Hoekstra said the focus of the primary should be putting forward the most viable candidate to beat Stabenow in November.

“People are asking for real solutions to the problems our country faces, and I have a proven record of getting things done for the people of Michigan,” Hoekstra said.

Hoekstra released an ad Monday focusing on Stabenow’s support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, derisively called “Obamacare,” contrasting with Hoekstra’s vote against it as a representative in 2010.

With or without Super PAC help, the Durant campaign is confident they will be able to financially compete with Hoekstra. They have pointed out that their $1.4 million cash on hand is in the same ballpark as Hoekstra’s $1.7 million on hand.

However, Durant and fellow U.S. Senate candidate Randy Hekman face an uphill climb to beat Hoekstra at the polls, according to a recent poll from Inside Michigan Politics.

The poll, conducted by Practical Political Consulting, found Hoekstra with an overwhelming lead, taking 75 percent of Republican voters, compared to 11 percent for Hekman and eight percent for Durant. Tea Party favorite Gary Glenn, who dropped out of the race last week and endorsed Durant, had six percent support.

 
 
 

4 Comments

  1. Michmediaperson says:
    July 24, 2012 at 8:03 pm

    Derisively?  A majority of Americans want Obamacare overturned.  John, I guess the people don’t count anymore???

    I wouldn’t have used derisively.   I would have used “better known as”

    Stabenow needs to be defeated.   She needs to be defeated.  She told the Detroit News a couple years ago that she can feel Global Warming when she is flying.   Only a nut could say something that stupid!

    Reply
  2. guest says:
    July 30, 2012 at 7:38 am

    Listen, CM-Life –

    Truly, I am not for censorship… however I am less for constant trolling. How about giving the readership a present for 2012-13 and ban MMPerson so we may be spared his constant nonsensing on here. Bullying is something we’re supposed to be fighting against… and that person does about as much of it as anyone I have ever seen on here. 

    How about puling him for the team?

    Reply
  3. Michmediaperson says:
    July 30, 2012 at 11:45 am

    You for censorship Guest?  Against free speech.  Against a diversity of opinion.  Only liberal opinions, right!

    Wikopedia when dealing with Obamacare says, “informally referred to” as Obamacare.
    So Wikopedia and michmediaperson are in agreement.  And, no, I don’t run Wikopedia.

    That’s a fact.

    Another fact.  http://www.rasmussenreports.com.   Today’s Rasmussen Poll has 55 percent  of Americans wanting Obamacare repealed.  Only 39 percent are for it.    So, derivesly is the right word to use when a vast majority want it repealed.  That number is the highest since April and will continue to climb.  I’ve talked to company presidents who are starting to get their next year’s health care bills and they are skyrocketing because of Obamacare.

    As far as Stabenow and Global Warming.  Guest, Google, Debbie Stabenow, Detroit News, Global Warming 2009.  A bunch of articles will pop up.  She actually said all that idiotic nonsense to the Detroit News Editorial Board.  Henry Payne wrote one of the articles about their meeting with her.  We need to get her out of the Senate.  She’s an embarrassment.  

    I present facts.

    A troll?  You don’t see my name on those 324 comments about the Beatles on CM-LIFE.  Or, any entertainment issues.  That seems to be the hot issues.

    I’m a political and financial person.

    So, you’re one of those Obama Libs who wants censorship and no free speech.  Throw away the U.S. Constitution.  That’s you Guest!

    Reply
  4. CMU Alum '78 says:
    July 31, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    MMP, you are entitled to your opinion of course, and I would not want that right taken away from anyone. But you ARE a troll! LOL

    Reply
 
 

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