I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
First term U.S. Reps. Mark Schauer and Gary Peters, both Democrats who unseated Republican incumbents in 2008, have been targeted by national Republican officials as seats they could regain in 2010. But so far, the two freshman legislators are enjoying a significant lead in fundraising over their Republican challengers. The Detroit News reports.
First, the numbers on Schauer vs Tim Walberg, the man he unseated in 2008 who is mounting a challenge to get his seat back:
Rep. Mark Schauer raised $320,054 in the fourth quarter, leaving him $1.2 million to defend his southern Michigan seat in what could turn into the state’s fiercest congressional battle.
All told, Schauer, D-Battle Creek, has raised nearly $1.5 million in this election cycle, according to his Federal Election Commission reports that were due at midnight Sunday.
Challenger Tim Walberg of Tipton, whom Schauer defeated, reported raising $168,743 in the fourth quarter, of which $144,123 came from individuals and $24,620 from political action committees. Walberg has raised $375,563 this election cycle and has $280,247 in cash on hand.
And the numbers for Peters, who is facing two Republican challengers:
In the 9th Congressional District race, Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, reported raising a net $313,889 for the fourth quarter…
Peters had nearly $1.4 million in cash on hand at the end of the fourth quarter. So far, he has raised $1.6 million.
Challenger Paul Welday, a former Oakland County GOP chairman, reported raising $166,699 in the fourth quarter, including a $60,000 personal loan to the campaign and $2,000 from PACs. He reported having $240,842 in cash at the end of the year, according to FEC reports.
A second challenger, Andrew “Rocky” Raczkowski, raised $102,710, including $65,435 from individuals, and has $98,070 in cash. Raczkowski is a former state representative.
Having more money than one’s opponents is not necessarily an indicator of electoral success, of course, but it’s one of the more significant factors in winning an election. It’s rare for a challenger to unseat an incumbent under the best of circumstances, but overcoming a three or four to one edge in spending makes it even more difficult.
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