Politics

Pounding on Bentivolio: Kerry-Must-Go Drumbeat Starts A Year Before Primary

September 14, 2013, 8:12 AM by  Alan Stamm

U.S. Rep. Kerry Bentivolio of Milford, aka "the accidental congressman" (among other nicknames), could be a one-term flash.     

That suggestion flows from an authoritative pollster and a Detroit News editorial writer. In addition, a credible rival already confirms an August 2014 primary challenge.    


Rep. Kerry Bentivolio "is vulnerable in a GOP primary,” a respected local pollster says

"A new poll by veteran pollster Steve Mitchell seems to confirm the first term congressman’s vulnerability," Henry Payne writes in a Detroit News blog post headlined "Bentivolio fatigue?"

“Only about a third (36%) of Republican Party Primary voters say they would vote to re-elect U.S. Representative Kerry Bentivolio while almost as many voters (30 percent) would vote for ‘a new person to do a better job." writes Mitchell about his poll, released Sept. 6. “Almost two-thirds (64 percent) of Republican primary voters are either ready to vote for a ‘new person’ or are ‘not sure’ who they will vote for.”

“Couple that with the fact that only four-in-ten of the respondents (40 percent) have a favorable impression of him and just half (50 percent) approve of the job he is doing,” continues Mitchell, “and you have to conclude that he is vulnerable in a GOP primary.”

Bentivolio became an instant front-runner last year after Rep. Thaddeus McCotter stepped down abruptly in mid-campaign. The district includes parts of western Wayne and Oakland. 

Dave Trott, a 52-year-old Birmingham lawyer with national political ties, is challenging Bentivolio for re-nomination. "Let's get the right voice in Washington,” says a campaign site launched this month. His first commercial is below. 

Payne, a Ndews editorial board member, commented on that development earlier post this week:

With state party backing, Trott hopes to put an end to the brief, bizarre political career of Kerry Bentivolio.

And at the Mackinac Center's Capitol Confidential blog, Jack Spencer last year quoted L. Brooks Patterson, the outspoken Oakland County executive, as telling him:

"Basically, he's Ron Paul on steroids. I don't believe that his positions represent most Michigan Republicans. 



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