GOP nomination for Stupak seat a photo finish
posted at 10:12 am on August 4, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Michigan held its primaries yesterday, and one Congressional seat in particular turned into a nailbiter for the Republicans. Bart Stupak (D) retired after managing to anger everyone in his district by flip-flopping on ObamaCare and abortion, and the GOP hoped to turn this R+3 district into a pickup. Unfortunately for the GOP, the race turned into a dead heat, for practical purposes (h/t HipEChik on Twitter):
Crystal Falls physician Dan Benishek held a paper-thin lead early today over state Sen. Jason Allen in the Republican nomination to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District.
With 99 percent of the vote counted, Benishek led Allen by 39 votes, 27,097 to 27,058. Two precincts in Bay County had yet to report vote totals by 1 a.m.
That was at 1 AM. As of 7 am, the race looked a lot closer — with Benishek leading by a single vote, 27,091 to 27,090. That means that the state will almost certainly have to hold a recount, if these vote totals remain in place. Allen could concede, but with a single vote’s difference, he’ll at least want to step through a recalculation of precinct totals to double-check the math (which has been known to uncover simple arithmetic errors).
The photo finish will keep Republicans tied up while the Democrat, state Representative Gary McDowell, proceeds with his campaign. Hopefully, that will only mean a delay of a few days, but if either candidate decides to challenge for a recount and keep pressing, it could take the GOP out of the game in the Upper Peninsula for a few precious weeks.
McDowell shouldn’t count his chickens too early, however. Republicans won the turnout battle in MI-01 by more than 2-1 despite Michigan having its constitutional officers on the ticket. That portends a big GOP turnout in the general election in this district, and a big advantage to whichever Republican eventually wins the nomination.
The big lesson: Don’t ever let anyone convince you that a single vote doesn’t count.
Blowback
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wow! great stuff.
Don’t be Stupak. Get out and VOTE!
ted c on August 4, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Is this with or without the ACORN advantage?
Electrongod on August 4, 2010 at 10:16 AM
Geez, one vote?! I thought that sort of thing only happened in movies. Hopefully they get this resolved quickly. Has there been any polling showing how either GOP candidate stacks up against the Dem nominee?
Doughboy on August 4, 2010 at 10:17 AM
How would I know whom to vote for? Where have the candidates been? They’ve never appeared in public. Flip a coin, that’s all my one vote would have been.
Skandia Recluse on August 4, 2010 at 10:18 AM
Uh – Ed – ACORN doesn’t involve itself in GOP primaries.
I’m standing by my position that my vote no longer counts.
fossten on August 4, 2010 at 10:19 AM
There was actually a vote held in Michigan? I thought the entire state had been sealed off “Escape from New York” style…or am I thinking of Detroit?
Bishop on August 4, 2010 at 10:20 AM
Republicans must win elections by 10,000 votes minimum in order to counter the ACORN theft ring.
This one goes to the Dem….
Keemo on August 4, 2010 at 10:21 AM
If Michigan continues to vote for the party that has brought them total destruction, then to hell with them. Same goes for Californians.
Keemo on August 4, 2010 at 10:22 AM
It should be an arranged marriage … and move on.
tarpon on August 4, 2010 at 10:24 AM
Michigan? Next time the husbands there will have to get all four of their wives to vote.
Mojave Mark on August 4, 2010 at 10:29 AM
I like to think it was my vote that put Dan over the top. He came up to our small hamlet in the Keweenaw, and while he certainly wasn’t polished by any means, he came across as genuine and didn’t pretend to know all the answers.
His main platform is overturning the healthcare fiasco. Acorn aside, I think we’ve got a real good shot of winning come November … this is, by and large, a conservative district.
macsurvivor on August 4, 2010 at 10:36 AM
I’m very confused. How do you decide a winner when it’s R vs R? Who gets to use the ballots “discovered” in the car trunk, warehouse, or the Registrar’s garage?
Oh wait. If there’s no D, then there won’t be any “discovered” ballots. Never mind.
TugboatPhil on August 4, 2010 at 10:37 AM
BTW, how’d Mitt and Huck’s endorsees fair in the MI GOP Gov’s race last night? Not too good I’m afraid…
davek70 on August 4, 2010 at 10:38 AM
Where do you think Allen (R) was getting campaign donations from?
Jason Allen and Acorn
Dr Evil on August 4, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Well, now you’ve done it…
LOL BTW, I was born and raised in Marquette.
Jeff2161 on August 4, 2010 at 10:42 AM
I like Benishek, how many people who came out for Dr Dan, won’t vote for Allen, because of his Union ties, this reminds me of New York and Dede Scozzafava.
Dr Evil on August 4, 2010 at 10:44 AM
Honestly, I don’t see anything bad about this. A Republican will be on the ballot against the bad guys and they’ll mos tlikely win. The lesson of the importance of a vote is the best part of this.
WashingtonsWake on August 4, 2010 at 10:44 AM
@WashingtonsWake — True, and it’s a good lesson. I almost didn’t get a chance to vote, I had to drag my 2 yo son with me since my wife wasn’t back yet from gallivanting. Glad I did.
However, as others have pointed out, Dan is a much more conservative candidate than Allen, though if Allen does prevail upon recount I will throw my wait behind him.
macsurvivor on August 4, 2010 at 10:50 AM
Jason Allen is a RINO – The Democrats are already running someone so why would they flip and vote for Allen? Who among the Conservatives will vote for Allen? Remember Stupak is vacating this seat, and he ran as a Conservative Democrat although that was pretty much a beard with no truth when it was put to the test – SEE Obamacare.
Dr Evil on August 4, 2010 at 10:51 AM
Tom Pelosi Perriello won his Congressional seat in the Bible Belt of Virginia (5thCD) by 727 votes: 3 votes per precinct.
He is very, very liberal: the epitome of Ivy League educated “green” & arrogant.
every vote counts.
kelley in virginia on August 4, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Benishek and Allen should turn this into a plus.
They should immediately cross-endorse one another for the general election. They could put out an ad where they appear together and explain that the recount process must go forward, but that no matter who wins, the Republican nominee will be worthy of every voter’s support.
The spectacle of Benishek saying, “I support Jason Allen, and would be proud to have him serve the First District in Congress”, immediately followed by Allen saying, “”I support Jason Allen, and would be proud to have him serve the First District in Congress” would make a dynamite spot.
Haiku Guy on August 4, 2010 at 10:55 AM
Try again…
Benishek and Allen should turn this into a plus.
They should immediately cross-endorse one another for the general election. They could put out an ad where they appear together and explain that the recount process must go forward, but that no matter who wins, the Republican nominee will be worthy of every voter’s support.
The spectacle of Benishek saying, “I support Jason Allen, and would be proud to have him serve the First District in Congress”, immediately followed by Allen saying, “”I support Dan Benishek, and would be proud to have him serve the First District in Congress” would make a dynamite spot.
Haiku Guy on August 4, 2010 at 10:56 AM
I am an Independent and Independent’s who vote in the Mid Terms want clear choices, two moderates does not a conservative choice make.
Allen (R) will run as a moderate
I suspect his Democrat opponent will run as conservative Democrat (no such creature) really exists today, they will vote Progressive, when push comes to shove SEE Stupak.
So where is the choice? Dr Dan Benishek is a Conservative.
Michigan has the highest unemployment in the country. Really people want to vote Allen and status quo?
Dr Evil on August 4, 2010 at 10:56 AM
Doc Dan may not be the most articulate on the campaign trail (lack of practice) but he has all of them beat in honesty.
We had about 30 people vote in this township, which is more than half of registered voters. Doc got all the red votes, although that isn’t many in this blue area.
Keeping my fingers crossed that he wins the recount I see coming.
Yoop on August 4, 2010 at 10:57 AM
I should pay more attention to the papers. Damnit, I was playing Starcraft II all night.
I’m not going to live this one down for a long while.
Keljeck on August 4, 2010 at 11:00 AM
Yoop where ya from?
macsurvivor on August 4, 2010 at 11:01 AM
Me too and as far as campaigning practice…you know Alvin Greene is running/campaigning for the Senate from South Carolina right :)
Dr Evil on August 4, 2010 at 11:01 AM
MI-01 is a HUGE chunk of territory: the unofficial numbers here —
never again say One vote makes no difference ;-)
/.
CaveatEmpty on August 4, 2010 at 11:06 AM
I just realized I said I would “throw my wait behind him” in an earlier post. Whoops.
Anyhoo, I predict a GOP win in November, no matter the candidate. People are P*SSED about what Stupak did, and people like me — a conservative Republican who always voted for Stupak because he was 1. a moderate 2. a likeable guy (yeah yeah, look what that got us) and 3. better than the alternative (kooky “Minuteman” Don Hooper) — will be voting R in droves.
macsurvivor on August 4, 2010 at 11:08 AM
Looks like Dan slayed him in the UP. I knew I didn’t like those trolls (folks below the Mackinac Bridge for those of you unfamiliar with Michigan).
macsurvivor on August 4, 2010 at 11:11 AM
I wonder how the Dem primary winner will fair in the General election?
Stupak’s seat would be a good seat for the GOP to win just as Symbolic gesture alone. Backlash happens and it couldn’t happen to more deserving people.
Dr Evil on August 4, 2010 at 11:12 AM
The focus needs to be on the economy up in Michigan, beat the drum from now till November…. A Democrat majority since 2006 in the Congress, look what that has done to Michigan, something like 13.2% unemployment.
Dr Evil on August 4, 2010 at 11:15 AM
O/T
How did McCotter do in the Republican primary? McCotter represents Michigan’s 11th District.
Dr Evil on August 4, 2010 at 11:23 AM
Many of us outstate (and the suburbs I guess) get it, but the louts in Detroit still suckling at the Government’s teat are a tough bloc to overcome.
macsurvivor on August 4, 2010 at 11:25 AM
Ummm, what about absentee ballots?
year_of_the_dingo on August 4, 2010 at 11:34 AM
The Republicans need to come up with an effective counter to “We Saved Jobs” and look if you don’t keep re electing us we can’t keep you employed. The Federal Government led by the Progressive wing, is doing everything in it’s power, to make Americans come to them begging for everything, including employment. That should anger people.
Paul Begala said, that they would use FEAR to drive their base to the polls. Republicans should counter that FEAR by appealing to people’s better nature, show them where they can facilitate economic recovery, and use the words “American Prosperity” not just manage the “Status Quo”.
You don’t hear the words American Prosperity come out of Democrat politicians mouths very often. Words that work on Americans. Stop strangling the job creators….let them have some oxygen so we can be put back on the path to American Prosperity.
American Prosperity overlaps into all kinds of political ideologies. Appeal to everyone not just their base. Have a positive message, people are really tired of being told to be patient by the Democrats…it’s more like a stall tactic, they are hanging on by their fingernails to power. The Republicans should point out that they – Democrats, have held the Majority -Power since 2006.
Dr Evil on August 4, 2010 at 11:43 AM
Michigan is an open primary state with a massive union presence (it’s not a right to work state) so with the Democrat running unopposed and SEIU supporting Jason Allen, all kinds of leftists crossed over to vote for Allen in order to keep a real conservative from winning the nomination.
Kim Priestap on August 4, 2010 at 12:04 PM
I agree, Dr. Evil. One more thing — the national party needs to spend some money on whoever wins. Not only is this a very winnable seat, but it would make a statement to take this district after Stupak’s disgraceful actions.
macsurvivor on August 4, 2010 at 12:10 PM
I can see people like Sarah Palin endorsing Dr Benishek but Jason Allen who looks to be the Union’s choice not so much.
I hope Dr Dan can pull it out.
Dr Evil on August 4, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Looks like ACORN might steal another election. It IS getting closer though.
volsense on August 4, 2010 at 1:24 PM
Now the Dems start their meetings on how to steal these elections in November.
capejasmine on August 4, 2010 at 1:25 PM
Lessons:
1) Every vote counts!
2) Primary Elections are important!
We need strong candidates to win.
Check the calendar below to find out when the upcoming Primary elections are.
http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2010houseprimarycalendar/
You can check the websites of the Secretary of State for each state to find out which candidates are on the ballot.
Then do what you can to help the best candidates win the Primary Elections.
We need strong candidates for offices at the Federal, state and local levels!
wren on August 4, 2010 at 2:00 PM
Great point. The Leftists have already done their dirty work. Their twisted ideology only knows how to cheat, lie, steal, and work the system. Please, RNC…we must PLAY DEFENSE if we really intend on fighting FOR America!
redwhiteblue on August 4, 2010 at 2:12 PM
The wilder part of Ontonagon County. Wolves in the south forty this past weekend. :-)
Possibly Gogebic County as I sell and downsize.
Yoop on August 4, 2010 at 2:13 PM
Beautiful country … I got to know a little bit of it when I was working for the Census (another story in itself … if there was a scintilla of doubt in my mind whether Government Health Care could work, it was erased after two months with the Census).
I’m from Calumet myself. Nice to know there are some fellow Yoopers at HA.
macsurvivor on August 4, 2010 at 2:40 PM
Out of Tech, when it was still a mining school, went to work for C&H. Osceola 6 & 13, Centennial #2, etc. Lived in Hancock, Osceola Location, Bramble Town and Laurium, in that order. :-)
Yoop on August 4, 2010 at 3:24 PM
Wow, now I’m glad I voted yesterday. I wasn’t going to but stopped in after work specifically to vote for Benishek.
supernova on August 4, 2010 at 3:48 PM
Proud to have given money to Benishek. Hope he pulls out ahead.
BirdEye on August 5, 2010 at 12:54 AM
How did the vote totals actually go DOWN from 1am with two precincts left to report to 7am when they had all reported? According to what is reporting above, Benishek DROPPED 6 votes after two more precincts reported. He went from 27097 to 27091 ???????
charlestperry on August 5, 2010 at 9:38 AM