Posted on 02/26/2004 6:14:52 AM PST by Dan from Michigan
Dems may challenge Rogers
By Dan Meisler
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
Two Democrats are considering campaigns against U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, saying his close ties with President George W. Bush and strong poll numbers for Democrats nationally make Rogers vulnerable.
"The ties to the Bush administration are all problems for our congressman this year," said Kathy Carney, Livingston County chair of the Democratic Party's 8th Congressional District. "There's a whole grass-roots organization of people who are very unhappy with what's going on in Washington."
The two possible candidates are Bob Alexander, 59, a longtime political activist who is currently chair of Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich's statewide campaign, and Matt Ferguson, 27, a former public radio journalist.
Both said they will decide whether to mount a campaign in the next few weeks. They also said a strong showing in polls by Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry against Bush contributed to their interest in running.
Rogers often votes in accordance with the president's policies, but his spokeswoman, Sylvia Rogers, said he would run on his own accomplishments.
"Congressman Rogers has a strong record of his own," she said. "He is very aggressive in helping the community and individuals in the 8th District."
Warner also said he is not paying much attention to the election or possible opponents.
"The election is almost nine months away," she said. "He's staying focused on his job."
Ferguson said that if he runs he would focus on keeping manufacturing jobs in Michigan by reworking trade agreements; fiscal responsibility and the national deficits; and the war in Iraq and treatment of veterans.
"(Rogers) is banking on George Bush being his easy ticket to re-election," Ferguson said. "People are looking for a new direction right now."
In a speech last week in Brighton, Rogers sounded some of the same themes on trade as Ferguson - including stopping Chinese currency manipulation - but Ferguson said there has not been much action on that front since Rogers was elected four years ago.
"I'm glad he's saying those kinds of things now, but he's been in office for four years, and where has it gotten us?" Ferguson said.
Ferguson worked for more than seven years at WKAR-FM, a Lansing public radio station, covering the Legislature and hosting a talk show. He graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in political theory.
Alexander said he is a veteran of more than 300 political campaigns, from national down to the local and school board level. He worked for the state as a policy analyst, and has been an adjunct professor at Davenport University. He also served in the Peace Corps in the late 1960s.
He said he wants to change the perception of Rogers as a "nice moderate."
Alexander said he would emphasize the issues of the deficit; the Medicare bill that's a "sellout to drug companies"; tax cuts for the wealthy; manufacturing jobs; and a single-payer health care system that would cover all Americans.
He said Bush's weakness is "not a perception, that's a reality."
"A lot of Republicans are outraged," he said. "A lot of them haven't made the connection to Rogers, but that's what a good Democrat should do."
Alexander also said that if he does well, he would consider taking on Rogers in 2006 in Rogers' presumed run for governor or a U.S. Senate seat. Warner said Rogers is not looking that far ahead.
Alexander said he's not optimistic about a Democratic victory in the 8th district because of the 2001 redrawing of boundaries that resulted in a 60-percent Republican district.
Rogers also is a formidable fund raiser. Filings from the Federal Election Commission show he has raised more than $600,000 and has more than $450,000 in cash on hand for his re-election campaign.
But Ferguson was hopeful.
"I think this race is winnable," he said. "It's a whole new ballgame."
Carney hinted that another Democrat is considering a run, but would not say who.
Alexander is a 3rd tier candidate who only has 'anti-war' to run on. He was Dennis Kucinich's campaign manager and he was also a leader of the anti-war movements out in Lansing. He'll run strong in East Lansing and will probably take Lansing too, but that's about it. Rogers was not in office for the NAFTA and GATT votes.
60% GOP district? 55% maybe.
Carney hinted that another Democrat is considering a run, but would not say who.
I bet the unnamed one is the strong dem. The dem state reps from the district are Mike Murphy, Dianne Byrum(Lost by 88 votes to Rogers in 2000 when it was a dem leaning district), and Gretchen Whitmer(State rep from East Lansing). Virg Bernero is the state senator from the area. Bernero and Whitmer can make this a fight. Murphy is quiet. Byrum had her chance.
Rogers got 67.88% last time against Frank McAlpine who cost votes every time he opened his trap. Rogers won everywhere outside East Lansing last time, and even won the City and Township of Lansing. I don't expect this much of a blowout this time, but this shouldn't be too hard for Rogers.
The district covers all of Ingham County(dem stronghold usually), all of Livingston County(GOP stronghold), all of Clinton County(GOP), the Southern half of Shiawasse County(Swings slightly GOP lately), and parts of NW Oakalnd County(GOP parts of the county).
Or tokin' candidates.
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