What’s Next for The United States?

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By Callahan Kilgore

Republicans have taken over the Senate and the House. What does this mean for the future of the United States?

Compromise. With Republicans in control of the House and the Senate, compromises will have to be made between the two parties. In what many are calling a mandate against Democratic policies, Republicans are under the watchful public eye and expected to pass through legislation and end the recent gridlock. This means legislation is going to need to be more moderate if Republicans want to keep public support for the 2016 midterms.

Republican Senator John Barrasso met with President Obama and other Senate leaders to discuss the future relationship between the President and Congress.

In an interview with Fox News, Barrasso says Obama is responsible for future relations with Congress. “Well, I believe it will hurt cooperation on every issue, Chris. What the President does over the next two months is really going to set the tone for the next two years in Washington”

Barrasso is referring to Obama signing Executive Orders on Immigration when he says it will “hurt cooperation”. An action that the President says he’s willing to take if he can’t get reform passed in a  Republican senate .

Another sensitive subject between Republicans and Obama is the confirmation of Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Republicans want Obama to wait until January to begin the confirmation process, rather than trying to confirm Lynch before Congress is in the hands of Republicans.

Only time will tell how relations between Obama and Congress will progress. However Barrasso’s response to his meeting with the President wasn’t exactly promising.

“ As the President said, his policies were on the ballot each and every one of them. We have now elected I think we will end up with nine new Republican senators, his policies have been rejected by the voters, and not just because they’re unpopular, because they don’t work.”

Land Left to Pick up the Pieces

By Callahan Kilgore

Former Michigan Senate Candidate Terri Lynn Land was left to pick up the pieces of her crumbling campaign and head home this Election Day.

Land was one of the few Republican’s who wasn’t able to win a swing state. But where did the Land Campaign go wrong?

Political Ads. Land made her first fatal flaw by releasing what Real Clear Politics is calling the ” worst ad” of the 2014 Midterms. Lands “Really” ad was in response to Democrat Gary Peters accusing Land of waging a war on women.

In the ad Land sits with a cup of coffee in her hands and says, ” Congressman Gary Peters and his buddies want you to think I’m waging a war on women.  Really? Think about that for a moment.” and the content ends there. Land spends the remainder of the ad silently sipping her coffee and staring at the camera. The ad was supposed to imply because Land is a woman she supports women. However, the ad contains no actual content. No stance on any election issues, and no chance of Land living it down.

To make matters worse for the Land Campaign even Republicans were criticizing the “Really” ad. Fox pollster Frank Luntz described it as ” the worst ad of the political process”.

Land’s second downfall was her lack of availability. While prominent Democrats like Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Michelle Obama were stumping for Peter’s. Land was dodging the press.

In early spring Land had a mishap with reporters in which she became overwhelmed and said, ” I can’t do this, I talk with my hands.”  The sound bite ” I can’t do this” went viral immediately. Making Land look incapable of handling the ever-present reality of dealing with the media.

Ever since,Land has had minimal press coverage, leaving her with her sub par ads and door knocking. Not an ideal campaign strategy for a swing state with over 9 million citizens.

Land’s media phobia also resulted in her refusing to debate Gary Peter’s. Who was asking Land to debate him at every turn. Land’s lack of accessibility, resulted in the Peters campaign questioning if Land would be able to hold her own in Washington.

A campaign that started with promise ended in defeat. Land closed her campaign by saying, “”We were never in the lead…I enjoyed watching him spend over $3 million to get better ID. But that’s the reality, it was always going to be a close race in Michigan.”

Gary Peters Wins Michigan Senate Seat

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By Callahan Kilgore

Gary Peter’s gave Democrats reason to celebrate November 4th, by taking the Michigan Senate Seat.

Peters, who had been leading in the polls for weeks, sealed the seat with 53 percent of the vote in comparison to Land’s 43 percent.

What started as a close race,began to favor Peters as Election Day approached. In addition to a successful campaign, Peter’s also had circumstance on his side.

In the weeks leading up to the election President Obama and the First Lady separately stumped for Peter’s in Michigan, both focusing on get out the vote messages. Peter’s was the only senate candidate Obama stumped for during Midterms.

Peter’s opponent, Terri Lynn Land ran what some are calling the worst campaign of the Midterm Elections. Land was once a symbol of hope for the republican party, however her embarrassing campaign ads and inavailabiltiy practically handed Peters the win.

In the weeks leading up to the election the National Republican Senatorial Committee, pulled more than 1 million dollars in Land ads off the air, essentially raising the white flag in Michigan.

Peter’s will be replacing Senator Carl Levin. A wildly popular Michigan Democrat who has served in the Senate since 1979. A legacy that undoubtedly gave Democrats an advantage in Michigan.

President Obama in Detroit

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By Callahan Kigore

President Obama and Senate candidate Gary Peters met a roaring crowd in Detroit, Michigan Saturday night just three days before Midterm Elections.

Gary Peters is the first and only Senate candidate the President has stumped for this election cycle. The First Lady also stumped for Peter’s in early October.

With the election closing in, Peter’s best course of action is to mobilize voters and the President’s visit seemed to be just the ticket. “I’m not worried about you. I need you to grab a friend.” said the President.

Obama’s speech focused on get out the vote efforts, “Complaining and not voting, that just means you’re giving away your power. You’re giving away your precious right to help determine the course of your nation.”

The President has been strategically missing from the Senate campaign trail due to his low approval ratings. Even democrats have shied away from Obama support during Midterm Campaigns.

Peter’s has been leading in the polls for weeks. As of November 2nd he was beating republican Terri Lynn Land by 12.4 points.

Land and other republicans have been using support of Obama against democrats. The Republican Party of Michigan released a statement following the Obama visit.

“Not only was today’s Obamacare reunion an insult to the 225,000 people across our state who lost their health care plans, but it was a reminder of all the other failures of this President’s administration and the countless Democrats who stand by and perpetuate it.”

Obamacare has been a hot button issue this election season,a hot button issue that democrats haven’t been too keen on discussing.

Who’s Funding Michigan?

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By Callahan Kilgore

The Michigan Senate Race is the eighth most expensive in the country. The bill comes in at just over 45 million, but who’s funding it?

Outside organizations. The highest spending Conservative SuperPAC, Ending Spending Action Fund, has spent over 5 million in support of Terri Lynn Land and in opposition Gary Peters. The top spending Liberal SuperPAC, NextGen Climate Action, has spent just under 4 million in support of Peters and in opposition to Land.

However SuperPACS aren’t the only ones writing checks.The Land Campaign has raised almost 12 million, 3 million of which Land contributed from her personal finances.  Where as the Peters Campaign has raised 9.5 million. 

What do all of these numbers mean? Michiganders are being bombarded with television ads 823,900 to be exact, the majority of which have been attack ads on both Peters and Land.

It also means that Michigan is following the national trend of increased spending on elections at the federal, state, and local levels.

ML Live Endorses Gary Peters for Michigan Senate

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By Callahan Kilgore

Powerful media group ML Live endorsed Gary Peters for Michigan Senate 10 days before the election.

“U.S. Rep. Gary Peters is unquestionably the better candidate to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Carl Levin. MLive Media Group endorses his bid.”

The ML Live endorsement is a huge boost for the Peters campaign. ML Live has the top Michigan news site in addition to reaching Michiganders through daily newspapers. Their endorsement will provide the Peters campaign with a new wave of free advertising that Land does not have the means to match at this point in the election.

In addition to ML Live, the Detroit Free Press has endorsed Peters for Senate. “Meanwhile, Democratic U.S. Rep. Gary Peters has proven a hard-working and highly effective member of Congress, and someone whose competence and independence have already been tested several times by a changing electorate and a broad array of political foes.”

Interestingly the Detroit Free Press included that they endorsed Peters opponent Terri Lynn Land for Secretary of State in 2006, however Land refused to accept the endorsement.

Peter’s is leading in the polls by more than ten points and is expected to gain popularity from the Michigan Press endorsements.

Land Campaign in Trouble

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By Callahan Kilgore

Michigan Senate candidate Terri Lynn Land went from running a successful campaign to running her campaign into the ground.

In spring of 2014 Land and her opponent Gary Peters were neck and neck in the polls, the Michigan senate was declared a toss up race, and the GOP had high hopes for Land.
However over the past six months Land has come across as overwhelmed and underprepared at best.

Speculations of Land’s compitency began late May on Mackinac Island. When reporters asked her opinion of the federal bailout on the auto industry Land replied “I support the autoworkers. I’m glad the autos are doing well.” Lands response raised eyebrows and questions, about her stance on the hot button issue.

Minutes following the forum Land had a minor freakout caused by reporters holding microphones to close to Land’s face ” I can’t do this. I talk with my hands” According to the Detroit Free Press Land appeared “slightly panicked and clearly uncomfortable.

Land received a huge blow to her campaign in early July when fellow Republican and Fox pollster Frank Luntz called Land’s “Really?” ad “the worst ad of the political process.”
Land spends over half of the ad staring at the audience after asking them if they really believe Peter’s accusation that she’s is waging a war on women. Luntz described the ad as lacking “any message or substance”

Republicans have seemed to wave the white flag over the Land campaign earlier this week when The Naitonal Republican Senatorial Committee pulled over 850,000 dollars worth of ads from the air, a bold move considering there are only a few weeks left until election day.

NRSC spokesperson Brook Hougesen replied to speculation with “The suggestion that the campaign is struggling is ridiculous, this is an extremely competitive race which is why Gary Peters has run one of the most negative campaigns in the country”

Michelle in Michigan

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By Callahan Kilgore

This fall Michigan will be rolling out the red carpet for First Lady Michelle Obama. Although the date has not yet been released, the First Lady is planning on making an appearance in support of U.S. Senate candidate Gary Peters and Governor candidate Mark Schauer.

“We are honored to have the First Lady come to Michigan and highlight how the future of our middle class is at stake here this November,” said Lon Johnson, Michigan Democratic Party Chair. “Mark and Gary have proven track records of fighting for good jobs – from standing up to save the auto industry to calling for a higher minimum wage – and they are the only candidates Michigan middle class families can trust. The First Lady has been a tremendous advocate for our middle class families and veterans, and we look forward to having her in Michigan.”

Peters and his opponent Terri Lynn Land have been dangerously close in the polls this fall, which is troubling for the democratic party; Republicans only need to gain 6 seats to take the Senate majority,a visit from the highly respected First Lady could give the Democrats the push they need to secure Michigan.

Elusive or Delusional?

By: Callahan Kilgore

Republican candidate Terri Lynn Land has been referred to as “The Invisible Candidate” because of her refusal to debate democratic candidate Gary Peters. Competition for the Michigan Senate seat is high, however Land’s campaign strategy is starting to raise eyebrows as Peters creeps ahead in the polls.

Avoiding debates is a campaign strategy often used by incumbent candidates to avoid attacks on their previous term. However since the Michigan Senate seat is open, Land’s strategy is certainly unconventional. The Land campaign has spent most of their efforts focusing on television ads attacking Peters and promoting Lands platform. 12 million dollars have been spent on ads supporting Land in comparison to Peters 7 million.

Peters drew attention to Land’s absence from the political arena by debating an empty chair with Lands name plate. “If a candidate isn’t willing, when they are running for office, to stand up and say what they are for, if they were elected, they would completely disappear.”

In response to Michiganders criticism Land has fired back with promises of a debate. A spokesperson from the Land campaign said, “Terri is ready to hold Peters accountable for his hypocrisy on everything from immigration and Wall Street to pet coke and the war on women. Gary Peters wanted this debate—let’s have it.”

Michigan Painted Purple

By: Callahan Kilgore

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For the first time in two decades Michigan finds itself feeling rather purple as the 2014 Senate election approaches.

Michigan Senator Carl Levin announced that he would not seek reelection after serving thirty-six years in the U.S. Senate. Resulting in Republican Terri Lynn Land and Democrat Gary Peters appearing on the ballot this November.

Both candidates are fiercely competing in what is quickly becoming the most expensive election Michigan has ever seen. As of early  September twenty-one million dollars had been spent on the race. According to opensecrets The Land Campaign has raised 8.7 million, 3 million of which was donated by Land herself. With just under 7 million dollars raised, Peters is not far behind.

Outside supporters have primarily funded attack ads on behalf of the candidates. The most popular of which accuse Land of a war on women and criticize Peters for his support of Obamacare.

According to the polls Peters is leading by 6.6 percent with a 5% margin of error. Peters has been leading in the polls since early April, however Land is far from a lost cause. As of late, the Republican Party has had a recent resurgence in Michigan winning Governor and Secretary of State. This in combination with being a nonpresidential election year could give Land the edge she needs.

Needless to say the 2014 Michigan Senate Race is one to watch closely.