Right to Life wants to stop Schwarz (RINO hunting in Michigan's 7th congressional district)

Lansing State Journal ^ | 3-21-04 | Stacey Range

[Dan from Michigan]

Right to Life wants to stop Schwarz
Abortion rights candidate vies for 7th District

By Stacey Range
Lansing State Journal

Six Republicans are hustling to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, but an early endorsement by the ever-powerful Right to Life of Michigan could stop several anti-abortion candidates in their tracks.

The reason: Right to Life wants to block the nomination of former state Sen. Joe Schwarz of Battle Creek, the only abortion rights GOP candidate.

"We want to make sure the nomination goes to someone who supports us," said Larry Galmish, director of the Right to Life political action committee.

Galmish said it's "very possible" the group will endorse one of the five anti-abortion GOP candidates before the May 11 filing deadline.

That likely would prompt some of the other candidates to drop out, leaving fewer candidates on the Aug. 3 primary ballot.

"I think we would have to drop out if we are truly Right to Life and I am," said Tim Walberg, a former state representative from Tipton. "I want to see a pro-life candidate win, and I will not be a spoiler in that."

The race for the 7th District congressional seat so far is among the nation's most dynamic. As Michigan's only open congression-al seat, it has caused a lot of excitement for former and current officeholders hoping to snag the coveted position, which - unlike the state Legislature - has no term limits.

Right to Life typically doesn't get involved in primaries with multiple anti-abortion candidates, but with the popular and moderate Schwarz looming as the single abortion rights candidate in the field, the group hopes to avoid a split anti-abortion vote that could lead to Schwarz's nomination.

Results of a poll released today further emphasize the anti-abortion group's need to stymie Schwarz's campaign.

The poll of 400 active Republican primary voters found Schwarz and Nick Smith's son, Brad Smith, tied for the lead with 16 percent each.

The poll of 400 Republican voters, conducted Monday through Wednesday by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA, had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Schwarz's showing is particularly strong because he didn't officially get into the race until late February and has raised the least money to date, said Ed Sarpolus, vice president of EPIC-MRA.

"He's definitely a strong candidate and one that conservative Republican groups will have to deal with," Sarpolus said.

Republicans who have filed for the primary include: Walberg, Schwarz, Brad Smith, former state Rep. Paul DeWeese of Eaton Rapids, and state Reps. Clark Bisbee of Jackson and Gene DeRossett of Manchester.

Two lesser known Democrats - Jason Seagraves from Adrian and Drew Walker from Battle Creek - also are running in the district, which covers Eaton, Jackson, Branch, Hillsdale and Lena-wee counties, and parts of Calhoun and Washtenaw counties.

The district is generally considered to be a safe Republican seat.

U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, R-Addison, is retiring this year after serving six terms in the U.S. House.

Further impacting the race are impending endorsements from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and an influential national bundling group that is expecting to give at least $150,000 to one of the six Republican candidates.

The chamber, which earlier this year said it would not endorse before the filing deadline, now is considering getting in early to secure its influence, Vice President Rich Studley said.

The chamber will begin interviewing candidates this week and could make a selection soon, Studley said.

The Washington, D.C.-based Club for Growth, a free-market group that supports fiscally conservative candidates, also will select a candidate soon, executive director David Keating said.

The group, which collects donations from its 9,000-member base dominated by Wall Street financiers and executives, is choosing between Walberg and Brad Smith.

The group, which collected about $100,000 for Rep. Mike Rogers' successful 2000 bid for the 8th Congressional District seat, will conduct a poll in April before deciding which candidate to endorse, Keating said.

Walberg didn't fare well in last week's poll, tying DeWeese and Bisbee for last place with support from 10 percent of respondents.

DeRossett, who was one of the earliest candidates to enter the race and who has raised the most money, had 11 percent.

But DeRossett, who can't seek re-election to the state House because of term limits, said he doesn't plan to drop out of the race any time soon.

"I didn't get into this race to drop out," he said. "You don't spend a year and a half of your life campaigning nonstop to drop out."

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Crowded field

Opportunity is knocking with the upcoming retirement of U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, R-Addison, and a slew of candidates are running to succeed the six-term congressman in the U.S. House. Here are the candidates thus far:

Republicans

Clark Bisbee, state representative from Jackson

Gene DeRossett, state representative from Manchester

Paul DeWeese, emergency room doctor and former state representative from Eaton Rapids

Brad Smith, attorney and son of Nick Smith, from Addison

Joe Schwarz, surgeon and former state senator from Battle Creek

Tim Walberg, nondenominational minister and former state representative from Tipton

Democrats

Jason Seagraves, special education instructor from Adrian

Drew Walker, businessman from Battle Creek

[Dan from Michigan]

District Map

Schwarz is also so anti-2nd Amendment, he makes Granholm look pro-gun. He ran for governor against Posthumus and was throttled in the primary since he's anti-life and anti-2nd Amendment. He calles us "Bubbas that like to strap on a 9mm."

Previous MI-07 Articles

Al Widner Drops Out - 1-15-04

Schwarz inclined to run - 12-4-03

Nearly 1/2 undecided - 11-23-04

Open seat creates Lively primary - 9-16-03

DeWeese jumps in - 3-23-03

I never heard of Seagraves until I read his website on politics 1. 3rd Tier candidate since he's more of a Peroite than a dem. Drew Walker I never heard of at all.

It looks like the dems are giving the GOP a free pass so far. This is NOT a safe GOP seat. It's a marginal one.

[Dan from Michigan]

The latest.

Couple of keys. The NRA has been VERY forgiving to Bisbee over CCW(he voted against, endorsed him with a B). The Chamber loves him as well(and he IS good on tax issues), and he is pro-life.

DeRossett leads in the money race. He got Ted Nugent's endorsement as well and that is huge since Nugent is big out in Jackson especially.

I expect the NRA to jump in here as well because of Schwarz's gun grabbing views.

Advantage IMO goes to Bisbee or DeRossett. I'd rather see DeRossett than Bisbee because of the CCW vote, but I'd take Bisbee over Schwarz. Then again, I'd vote for Granholm over Schwarz.

[Clintonfatigued]

This race has been affected by charges of attempted vote-buying of Nick Smith in the medicare vote. How much press has that gotten in the district?

[Dan from Michigan]

I haven't heard anything recent about it.