Posted on 04/10/2005 10:46:10 AM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Ordained minister and ex-Detriot City Councilman gears up to run against liberal Debbie Stabenow.
Michigan Ping
It would be interesting to know if stories on African-American GOP candidates or in this case potential candidates are more often than other candidates not accompanied by pictures?
Butler is a VERY conservative, Bible-based preacher, and heads up a church of ~12,000 or so (here's their website: http://www.woficc.com/ ). I can see him getting votes from our state's Republicans as well as its minorities.
From what I know of him, I think he's a good guy. He sure put up a fight against then mayor Coleman Young when he served as a councilman in Detroit.
Sorry, I should have read the article first. It states that his church has 21,000 members, much more than the 12,000 that I had thought.
At first blush, I hope he get the nomination. It might make for an interesting election. Of course I am a long way away and have little information about this contest.
And here is a web site for his exploratory group:
http://www.keithabutler.com/
Keith Butler is a good conservative. However, I fear a little known black conservative in Michigan cannot beat an incumbent liberal Democrat. Stabenow is highly beatable, she is rather pedestrian intelligence-wise. I hope Butler can beat her, but I'd like to see someone more recognized take her on (Bill Laimbeer?).
Ideally, John Engler or Candice Miller would take her on. But since they are no-go's, I actually think this guy might have a decent chance. If he can get elected to the City Council in the middle of Detroit, he can clearly get some votes that normal Republicans NEVER could win.
It's a bit of a longshot, but I'd be interested to see what the race looks like a year and a few months from now if he is the nominee. It could turn out to be a disaster, or he could be putting up a really strong fight.
Oh, and let's be honest, being a minority doesn't hurt. Assuming he isn't a nutjob like Keys, which I have seen no indication of so far, that would be a big asset.
I just worry this may be a replay of the Jim Blanchard-Bill Lucas Gubernatorial contest of '86. Lucas was a prominent African-American GOP pol from Detroit, but wasn't able to make any headway against Gov. Blanchard.
He's recognized where it counts...... DETROIT. I believe he has a very good chance of ousting Stabenow.
Good point. But in 1986 things were going pretty well in Michigan, and Blanchard had peak approval ratings. Debbie Stabenow doesn't have that advantage, though her positive rating is substantial (high 50's).
Keith Butler isn't what I'd consider a first-tier candidate. But he's interesting and unconventional. Perhaps the uniqueness of his appeal will win him free media that he can use to his advantage. Never say never.
The key will be white Catholic voters, who nearly delivered Michigan to Bush in 2004, and whether he can convince the party faithful in western Michigan that he's more than a token candidate.
You know, at first I thought that Butler wouldn't stand much of a chance and was hoping for a bigger name to enter the race, but after thinking about it I'm not so sure it's necessary. Butler is reasonably well known in the Detroit metro area, was elected as a Republican in 95%-Democrat Detroit, now lives in Southfield with its middle-class blacks who might make the jump to the GOP, and is conservative enough to turn out the GOP vote in the rest of the state. Keeping Stabenow's margin close in the Detroit area is the first step to beating her statewide, and Butler could do it. I just hope that he doesn't lose too big among blue-collar white Democrats from Downriver, Macomb County, Flint, Saginaw, etc., since if he does it would all have been for naught.
"I hope Butler can beat her, but I'd like to see someone more recognized take her on (Bill Laimbeer?)."
Laimbeer does color commentary for Pistons games and coaches the Detroit WNBA team. He's still around, but he's being talked up more as a future Pistons coach rather than politician.
He doesn't have a prayer(pun intended).
I'll be attending the Southfield event tomorrow. Hope to see some Michigan FReepers there.
Tuesday, April 12
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