Republican Congressman Thaddeus McCotter of Livonia kicked off his presidential campaign at a small town festival in Whitmore Lake tonight. He made the announcement under threatening skies and in front of 600 people attending a festival sponsored by a conservative talk radio station.
“Today I am announcing my candidacy for the nomination of my Republican party, to serve as your President of the United States,” McCotter told the crowd after taking the stage and briefly outlining his beliefs.
He says he stands for smaller government, tax relief and regulatory reform. McCotter also said the country needs a President who knows the future is not big government, but self government.
The five-term Congressman is little known outside his district, but he says he will use the internet will change that, “This is the Republicans first social networking campaign. The Democrats had one in ’08. We’ve seen people come out of nowhere already and people be blown back already.”
McCotter says he chose the event for his announcement so he could play guitar, and led his band in a rocking rendition of Johnny B. Goode.
He joins a crowded field of GOP hopefuls that already includes former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, US Representative Ron Paul of Texas, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, pizza magnate Herman Cain, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman and US Representative. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.
