Possible challengers to Stabenow emerge

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner John McCulloch told The Detroit News he is "seriously looking at" a challenge and expects to decide within 30 days. Earlier, Detroit radio host Frank Beckmann laughed off speculation that he might enter the race against the two-term Democrat from Lansing.

McCulloch, 55, said at the Mackinac Policy Conference he is concerned about the way the federal budget deficit and other issues are being handled.

Elected to his post in 2000, McCulloch previously served 10 years as an Oakland County commissioner, including five years as chairman. Born in Royal Oak, he is an attorney and a certified public accountant.

Pollster Steve Mitchell said he's prepared to work on McCulloch's campaign. Mitchell said Stabenow is vulnerable because she is consistently polling below 50 percent. If Michigan native Mitt Romney becomes the Republican nominee for president, that also bodes well for a Stabenow challenger, he said.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110603/POLITICS02/106030369/1024/POLITICS03/Possible-challengers-to-Stabenow-emerge

So funny to see those who are muckety-mucks at a county level kicking around the idea of a statewide run. Sure it can be done and one has to start a political carer somewhere, of course. Still, it's one thing to be a big fish in a county sized pond, quite another to win the state of MI. Oakland county you say? Good luck winning the north. The north, where Stabenow is well known and popular. Lots of agriculture up here and Stabenow is from a farming family. She knows the concerns in farming communities.

Well, if nothing else this race will be interesting.

Julie