Posted on 07/29/2020 12:00:31 PM PDT by Kaslin
Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan governor and possible Biden VP pick, has been in hot water for months with her continuing restrictions on state commerce during the coronavirus pandemic. With her recent threats to press rewind on the state’s economy, Michigan Republicans have an opportunity to paint her and her allies as authoritarian while advocating for a freer economy, just in time for the 2020 election. And they already have an ideal flagbearer to lead that charge: Senate candidate John James.
If James can take up the cause of an open Michigan, he might be able to use it to connect with voters in the state. He’s already got a lot going for his prospects in other respects: he ran for Michigan’s other Senate seat just two years ago, building name recognition with voters, and finished unexpectedly strong, only 7 points behind long-time incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow. This year, he’s up against freshman Democrat Gary Peters, who’s kept a relatively low profile in his first term and who’s landed on Roll Call’s list of the 10 most vulnerable senators for being in a state Trump carried in 2016. The list also notes that James has continually beaten Peters in quarterly fundraising numbers.
James is an easy choice for Michigan’s conservatives. As a combat veteran with private-sector leadership experience, he checks a lot of boxes for Republicans. But in a swing state like Michigan — where more folks generally identify as independents than as either Republicans or Democrats and 17 percent of the state’s voters haven’t decided yet who they’ll cast their ballot for in the Senate race — he’ll need to win over a majority of independent voters to close the polling gap between him and Peters.
Appealing to more Trump-weary moderates could be an effective strategy, as the data suggests that Michiganders who gave the president a surprise victory in 2016 may be casting their hopes on Biden instead this year. And James has done just that, making a name for himself as a rare Republican unafraid to criticize and disagree with Trump.
He’s also discussed racial politics far more than the average Republican candidate, even going so far as to claim that “Donald Trump doesn’t need less Black folks around him, he needs more.” For independents frustrated by Republican silence on racial tensions — both before and especially during the recent upheaval — James’ willingness to speak out on the topic could prove just the push those voters need to land on his side of the fence.
All of this positions James well to assume the role of GOP emissary this year. But if James is able to present his party as the smarter alternative to the left’s authoritarianism, it could be the nail in the Democrats’ 2020 coffin. So far, his campaign has been restrained on the issue, calling out Whitmer and Peters only once each on issues related to the coronavirus.
While Whitmer maintains the unusually high coronavirus approval numbers enjoyed by nearly every governor across the nation, this restraint is probably prudent — but the further she slips, the sharper the contrast James should create between himself and the state’s Democrats. And if James can pair this contrast with his emphasis on “compassionate conservatism” — combining an analytical concern for the economic effects from the pandemic with a more humane approach to the people behind the numbers — that balanced toolkit could be what he needs to propel him past Peters.
With James, Republicans are primed for a 2020 win in Michigan. If he uses this unique political moment to his advantage, he could ride that momentum all the way to Capitol Hill.
I read on Google of course that Trump pulled his ads from Michigan. If it is true I’m just thinking he doesn’t want to waste the money there in the summer. I certainly don’t believe the reason that they give which of course is it’s not competitive anymore
How does she maintain a high approval rating? Woman is an idiot and tyrant.
When DJT starts campaigning in Michigan about ship building and the rebuilding of The Soo Locks. He will win the state.
The polls are fraudulent and propaganda.
And, then pivot to improving infrastructure in the State.
I hope he says he’ll “fix the damn roads.”
The media still has lots of pull, and their bias does help Democrats while hurting Republicans.
“How does she maintain a high approval rating?”
Only among D’rats. lefties and welfare takers. Half their citizens are quite pissed off at her. Simmering mad.
I really hope so. I trust your instincts
I don’t know, pulling ads is never a good sign.
I don’t know either I try not to think about it
We will find out soon enough
“The media still has lots of pull, and their bias does help Democrats while hurting Republicans.”
Not really. Republicans have won the majority of special elections across the United States.
Do you think if the mainstream media were neutral and objective that the GOP would have lost the House and underperformed in Senate races in 2018? Do you think Trump’s numbers would be higher if the media were neutral and objective?
I remember some media guy back in the GWB years had a moment of rare honesty and said that the media is good for at least 5 points or so for the Democrats. I don’t know that the precise number is but it probably is significant.
We can be glad that the networks, NYTimes, and Wash Post don’t control the narrative to the extent they used to, but that still largely do drive it. Just look at how Trump’s numbers tanked in June and July as the media successfully blamed him for Covid with relentlessly negative coverage.
I hope the GOP wins in special elections are a harbinger for November, but the odds will always be longer for the GOP. Part of that is due to changing demographics that favor the Left, and part is due to the Left’s dominance of nearly every opinion-shaping institution in the country.
No ads were pulled. They stopped buying additional ads on top of the $11.4 million ad buy that was already purchased.
Thank you.
I have the misfortune of google news popping up on my phone sometimes and I can’t figure out how to stop it :)
So, basically I received propaganda.
Thank you.
They did mention the 11.4 million and that national ads are stills showing there.
But they said an insider said the inside polls are (devastating or some such word.
I know. I should know better but we are human and they depend on our flaws.
Who pulled ads? Where does this stuff come from?
Google “Trump ads Michigan” and a bunch of articles come up that say the campaign “halted new ad buys in Michigan”. Garbage?
I haven’t seen anything. But you buy ads, you stop for a while. Not sure it means anything.
The fact that her numbers are reportedly high, strengthens my belief that the polls this year are totally bogus, BS.
I was skeptical, but now I’m sure. The polls are made up.
The Trump Campaign has stopped buying ads in Michigan but continues to do so in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
The Trump campaign stopped running ads in Michigan last week, while it continues to advertise in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, according to the ad tracking firm Medium Buying. America First Action, the pro-Trump super PAC, has not aired advertising there since July 2 and its latest flight that ties Joe Biden to the “Defund the Police” movement is not scheduled to air in Michigan. Instead, the spot is running in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona and North Carolina.”
https://www.mcclatchydc.com/article244567752.html
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