Ouch:
http://www.detroitnews.com/...
Republican pollster Frank Luntz has called Michigan Republican Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land’s “Really?” campaign ad the worst spot so far of the 2014 campaign season — a dubious distinction in a high-profile race that may determine if Democrats hold on to control of the chamber.
The ad, aired in May, initially was touted by some as a good comeback to opponent U.S. Rep. Gary Peters’ claim Land is anti-woman because of her opposition to abortion and federal legislation known as the Paycheck Fairness Act.
In the ad, Land says Peters and his “buddies” claim she’s “waging a war on women.” “Really?” Land wonders. “Think about that for a second.” The music plays as she sips from a coffee cup for 13 seconds before concluding that as a woman she “might know a little bit more about women than Gary Peters.”
Luntz criticized the commercial Wednesday on “Fox & Friends” for failing to “give any message” or “communicate any sense of substance.”
“I'm going to upset the candidate, who’s going to see it. But this is the worst ad of the political process,” Luntz said Wednesday. - The Detroit News, 6/26/14
Land hasn't been running a stellar campaign and Luntz just confirmed that. Of course that's not stopping GOP big wigs like Jeb Bush (R. FL) from trying to save her campaign:
http://thehill.com/...
Bush will host a fundraiser in mid-September for Reps. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst (R) and Oregon Senate nominee Monica Wehby (R), according to The Wall Street Journal.
Bush has been increasingly active in helping other Republicans as he looks to reestablish ties with a younger generation of power players.
He's already held a fundraiser for influential Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R), Virginia Senate candidate Ed Gillespie (R), South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R), New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) and Michigan Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land (R). - The Hill, 6/26/14
We'll see what impact Bush has on the races but Rep. Gary Peters' (D. MI) picked up a big endorsement last week:
http://www.mlive.com/...
The Detroit Regional Chamber's political action committee has thrown its weight behind Gary Peters in the state's race for a U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Carl Levin, who is retiring.
Peters, a Bloomfield Hills Democrat who is currently the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 14th district, faces Republican challenger Terri Lynn Land in the November election. Land, of Grandville, was most recently Michigan's Secretary of State.
“Congressman Peters has a proven track record of bipartisan leadership that is focused on solutions instead of partisan bickering. His support for immigration reform, increased infrastructure investment and his work with Governor Snyder on the New International Trade Crossing will translate well as he moves from the House to the Senate,” Brad Williams, vice president of government relations for the Detroit Regional Chamber, said in a statement. - MLive, 6/19/14
The DRC is also backing Mark Schauer's (D. MI) gubernatorial bid. By the way, Peters is waiting for Land to get back to him on this:
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/...
U.S. Senate candidate Gary Peters on Wednesday called for five town hall-style debates with his Republican opponent, Terri Lynn Land, who said negotiations on campaign debates will wait until the fall.
Both candidates recently received debate invitations from WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan State University, and WXYZ-TV in Detroit. A West Bloomfield Township Democrat, Peters has accepted all three invitations and proposes two additional events. All five, he said, should receive substantial televised coverage because they mark the first Senate debates for an open seat in Michigan in 20 years.
In an open letter to Land, the congressman said: “I believe these discussions will be most productive if they are held in a casual and free-flowing town hall format that engages Michiganders and encourage as much participation as possible.”
In response, the Land camp released a brief statement that fit the theme of Land’s latest TV ad: “Gary Peters and the rest of the politicians in Washington just seem to want to fight like school kids, spend more money, and stick us with the bill. We look forward to joint appearances in the fall and will begin those discussions after the primary.”
Peters and Land, the former Michigan Secretary of State, are both unopposed in the Aug. 5 primary.
Political observers believe the Peters campaign is confident that their candidate is a far superior public speaker than Land. The presumptive GOP nominee has held few public appearances and has largely avoided talking to the media. - Oakland Press, 6/18/14
Sounds like Land is chickening out and thinks she can win this race without really having to address any serious questions or issues. The Kochs have been spending a lot to defeat Peters but Michigan voters aren't being duped. We need to keep up the momentum though so please do donate and get involved with Peters' campaign:
http://www.petersformichigan.com/...