Well, this changes things. Since former West Michigan Congressman Pete Hoekstra announced he would run for the Republican nomination to try and unseat Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow in 2012, he was considered by many to be the GOP race’s frontrunner.
But, yesterday, three high-profile Republicans endorsed a candidate who isn’t really even a candidate yet. Former Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis (who, at one point earlier this year, was thought to maybe want to throw his hat into the Senatorial race himself), former U.S. Senator Spence Abraham (who lost his Senate seat to Senator Stabenow in 2000), and ex-Michigan Republican Chairwomen Betsy DeVos have announced that they will back Clark Durant in the GOP race.
Durant, however, has not yet entered the race. From the Associated Press:
Durant is a charter school executive. He tells The Associated Press he hasn't yet declared his candidacy, but the endorsement "makes it so much easier to make that decision." Durant lost a Senate primary bid in 1990.
Anuzis, Abraham, and DeVos announced their support for Durant in an open-letter posted on Anuzis' website. An excerpt:
We strongly believe that the strongest candidate we can run for Senate and the person who would make the best Senator for Michigan in these difficult times is Clark Durant. Clark is a strong constitutional conservative. He believes in limited government and the rule of law. He is committed to upholding the sanctity of life. He favors a strong national defense. And he knows that the only way America will overcome our economic troubles is by allowing the free enterprise system to flourish and to let people keep more of what they earn. But it is not just what Clark believes that counts. It is his breadth of experience “outside” Washington that will allow him to be the leader we need in the Senate.
Gary Glenn, Michigan leader of the conservative American Family Association, former Kent County Probate Judge Randy Hekman, and businessman Peter Konetchy have all announced they plan to run to unseat Stabenow.
