MICHIGAN: (Democrat) Widner drops 7th District congressional race

Political State Report: Straight From the Trenches ^ | January 15, 2004 | Larry Kestenbaum

[AuH2ORepublican]

MI: Widner drops 7th District congressional race

Al Widner, who many Democrats hoped had a good shot at Nick Smith's 7th District congressional seat in south central Michigan, has withdrawn as a candidate, citing difficulties in fundraising. The former school superintendent had been regarded as certain to be the Democratic nominee.

According to his press release: "Widner said that the demands of running a full-fledged campaign were overwhelming, and he quickly discovered he had to dedicate most waking hours to fundraising."

Widner had told supporters that the 7th District had the highest Democratic vote of any Republican-held congressional seat. (Not immediately clear whether he meant in Michigan or nationally.)

The incumbent 7th District congressman, Nick Smith, is retiring; his son is among the many contenders for the Republican nomination. Given the lead time required to put together a serious congressional race in the sprawling district, Widner's withdrawal probably means that the eventual Republican nominee will not have a strong opponent in November.

Widner will refund unspent campaign contributions on a pro-rated basis.

[AuH2ORepublican]

The Democrats have lost their only candidate (so far) in the open 7th CD in Michigan, a swing district that only gave Bush 51% in 2000. Now, if we can only make sure that a conservative wins the GOP nomination instead of the pro-abortion, anti-gun RINO Joe Schwarz, we can put this one to bed (the Democrats have a chance if they run a social moderate-to-conservative and Schwarz get the GOP nomination).

[AuH2ORepublican]

*PING*

[Dan from Michigan]

This is bad. If 1 or no dems run, they may be apt to mess around and back Schwarz who is the 'most acceptable' of the GOP'ers running.

I expect a tougher dem to jump in now. Widner may have found out he was going to face a Spade or Schauer as well, and dropped out there.

[Amish]

I'll be shocked if Mark Schauer doesn't run for the Demo nod and get it.

He's as ambitious as Hillery.

[Amish]

And as I've mentioned before, has shaved off his mustache!!!

Obviously running!

[Impy]

There are currently no rats on the politics1.com list.

Schauer was there.

They'd be idiots not to contest this seat.

[Dan from Michigan]

The rats have a new candidate - very likely sacrificial lamb. Jason Seagraves. He's 26 and a Perotite, without any elective office experience.

It's POSSIBLE, since Joe Hune won a state rep seat at 22, but congressional races are 7-9 times larger than a state rep seat.

Plus the fact that Right to Life and NRA will back the Republican unless it's Schwarz.

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Another Rumor:

I heard that Bob Alexander might be Mike Rogers opponent. He's from Lansing and is the leader of the antiwar groups in that area. He also was Kucinich's campaign manager in Michigan. Alexander is a weak opponent, but he's stronger(anyone would be) than Frank McAlpine was in 02.

Then again, you could run a deaf mute, and do better than McAlpine did, since he lost votes every time he opened his mouth. He lost EVERYWHERE except East Lansing. He even lost the city and townships of Lansing. I don't expect Alexander to do that, although I'm not sure he'd be able to take even Ingham County overall.