Donald Lambro wrote a rather informative article in The Washington Times today that should interest most of us.[1]  I would like to add just a little “on the street” reporting flavor to it, though.

 
The Michigan Republican primary for the United States Senate seat now held by a lightweight Democrat is already a bit dicey with outside interference, to say the least!  We have a very popular black Detroit minister (Keith Butler) running against a hard-nosed law and order sheriff (Mike Bouchard).  Here’s the line to bet on, as I see it on the street:

Bouchard got the nod from RINOs like Sen. Elizabeth Dole and the National Republican Senatorial Committee -- and a few establishment RINOs around Michigan.  Because outsider RINOs are trying to steer the Republican primary election in Michigan, many of the state’s core Republicans are starting to become a bit ticked off.  It is possible that Bouchard can win the primary, but that would polarize an overwhelming number of urban Democrat voters around the state, who may otherwise not vote, to come out to vote and it is doubtful Bouchard will win in the general election.  Democrats, after all, will label Bouchard as a politician who wants more draconian laws and will put more people in jail.

Keith Butler was a very popular Detroit City Council member for many years.  He is a Jack Kemp style Republican and did many good things to boost the economy of the City while councilman.  Butler left that position of his own free will, to grow his church.  There is no way he would have ever been beaten in an election.  As Reverend Butler, he has a very large flock of inner-city folks.  His popular church has a reputation for not only training poor kids to be productive but also for getting adults jobs -- and off of welfare.  So, we see Keith Butler as being very well respected in two vastly different positions.

Bouchard will do well in the general election in northern areas where many people vote a straight ticket.  But, Bouchard will not do well at all in the urban areas where nearly half of the voters reside.  The race issue may tend to hurt Butler in some rural areas of the state, but Keith Butler will do quite well in all of the urban areas.  And, because Butler will draw heavily from the urban areas, Butler will also be capturing votes from the Democratic Party strongholds.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow is a lightweight of no account.  She will be supported by the unions, and other liberal voting blocks, simply because she is a Democrat.  If he runs a good, strong campaign, Keith Butler should be able to beat her easily.  The problem, however, is that the wayward RINOs will not help Butler because he is not a liberal in any sense of the imagination and is not likely to do their dance in Washington.

1. http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060715-114733-7797r.htm