DeRossett, Schwarz leading race for congressional seat

AP ^ | 4-20-04

[Dan from Michigan]

DeRossett, Schwarz leading race for congressional seat

The Associated Press
4/20/2004, 6:42 p.m. ET

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — State Rep. Gene DeRossett and former state Sen. John Schwarz are leading fellow Republicans in the race for a congressional seat in southern Michigan, according to a poll released Tuesday.

A third candidate, attorney Brad Smith, won the endorsement of the conservative Club for Growth on Tuesday. The endorsement could bring an infusion of cash to Smith's campaign; the Washington-based group said its members will donate total contributions "in the six-figure range."

Smith is the son of U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, R-Addison, who now holds the seat but is stepping down at the end of the year.

The poll of likely Republican primary voters showed Schwarz with 18 percent and DeRossett with 16 percent. Schwarz is a moderate Republican and physician from Battle Creek. DeRossett is a conservative from Manchester.

Three candidates — Smith, state Rep. Clark Bisbee and former state Rep. Tim Walberg — each got 10 percent of the vote. Former state Rep. Paul DeWeese got 9 percent. Twenty-seven percent of voters were undecided.

The poll, by EPIC/MRA of Lansing, questioned 304 people April 14-16. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 5.7 percentage points.

Two Democrats — former University of Michigan paralegal Sharon Renier and consultant Drew Walker — also have announced plans to run for the seat.

[Dan from Michigan]

DISTRICT MAP:

The dems are giving us a free pass so far too. Renier and Walker aren't exactly top tier candidates. Renier lost once for state rep.

Previous Stories

Cash flows MI-07

Right to Life to stop Schwarz

District By the numbers

Eaton County(all) - 49272 voters - Bush won by 1592, 50%(Granholm won it)
Jackson County(all) - 61946 - Bush won by 3906 - 52%
Most of Calhoun County - 55080(approx) - Gore won by 1447 - 50%(Two GOP townships in another district)
Branch County - 15783 - Bush won by 2052 - 55%
Hillsdale County - 17473 - Bush won by 3988 - 60%
Lenawaee County - 40093 - Bush by 2316(dem state rep) - 52%
Part of Washtenaw County(approx) - 42548 - Bush by 2214 - 51% (Most bad areas in Dingell's district)

Areas Gore won(Bush won all the rest)
Eaton:
Lansing(part) by 1004 - 78%
Eaton Rapids by 326 - 50%

Jackson:
Jackson City by 2172 - 58%
Leoni Township by 229 - 51%

Calhoun:
Albion by 1238 - 70%
Battle Creek by 1718 - 53%
Bedford Township by 328 - 53%
Springfield by 280 - 57%

Lenawee:
Adrian City by 821 - 54%
Clinton Township by 25 - 49%

Washtenaw:
Scio Township (part?) by 870 - 53%
Sylvan Township by 25 - 48%

[Dan from Michigan]

Ping

[Dan from Michigan]

Ping

[AuH2ORepublican]

With everyone below 20%, it's obviously too early to annoint DeRossett as the leading conservative in the race. Maybe Congressman Smith's son is our best bet, since (i) he has name ID and (ii) the Club for Growth will make sure he gets enough money to beat Schwarz. Smith's biggest problem may be the mini-scandal involving his father supposedly voting on a particular bill so that some group supported his son's bid (Dan, could you refresh my memory?), but I'm not sure the issue has legs. In any event, we definitely need to pick a single conservative to take on the pro-abortion, anti-gun Schwarz one-on-one, because if we have 5 conservatives still running on primary day that RINO Schwarz may sneak in with 30%.

[Clintonfatigued]

Thanks for the update. Let's hope Schwartz does not make a comeback.