Official Michigan Megathread

[dmmidmi]

Outside groups can't stop airing false ads about Gary Peters. The cancer patient, carbon tax ad, and now this: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/aug/20/ending-spending-action-fund/conservative-group-claims-michigan-senate-candidat/

[dmmidmi]

The DSCC is now using Terri Lynn Land's "Really?" commercial in their own ad: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140827/POLITICS01/308270048/0/update/Dems-launch-new-ad-attacking-Terri-Lynn-Land-support-women

[dmmidmi]

Even though she is marching into certain defeat, I find the Pam Byrnes commercial that I saw today humorous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBBu9apYhzY

[dmmidmi]

Gary Peters is taking his statewide tour to West Michigan's breweries: http://woodtv.com/2014/09/06/senate-candidate-gary-peters-tours-mi-breweries/

The clip shows him at Mitten Brewing Company in Grand Rapids (if you ever find yourself there, try either their Country Strong IPA or Triple Crown Brown--I had a chocolate stout there a few months back, which was also pretty good).

[dmmidmi]

New poll has the Senate race a virtual tie: https://today.yougov.com/news/2014/09/07/battleground-tracker-2014-michigan/

Yeah, I'm guessing Peters will win more than the 41% of women and 59% of black voters they cite.

[dmmidmi]

...i'm sorry.  Did someone slip some acid in my Coke? Or am I reading that wrong? Because I can't see a reasonable scenario where 40% of the black vote is up for grabs for Land.

Or 60% of women.

[dmmidmi]

US News and World Report is also wondering where Terri Lynn Land has gone: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/09/10/michigans-terri-lynn-land-is-the-invisible-senate-candidate

[dmmidmi]

So basically, she believes Koch money will do everything for her.

Lol, that's stupid. She will be crushed.

Karl Rove and AFP are still spending money here. It has gotten to the point where her ads are attack ads on Gary Peters.

If I can find the links, I'll post them.

[dmmidmi]

I found the link to the Terri Lynn Land commercial I was talking about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4bMJa8b0gk

So, yeah. She is now creating the attack ads, and not leaving it to outside groups.

By the way, John King is a moron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDDcZ22jsnU Everybody else thinks that commercial sucks (hence why Terri Lynn Land has stopped airing it).

[dmmidmi]

This would be awesome. We need more reindeer farmers in Congress.

[dmmidmi]

Terri Lynn Land is cracking the door open to debating Gary Peters: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140917/POLITICS01/309170026/0/politics/Land-launch-debate-talks-Peters

Sort of. We're less than two months until election day and she's requesting that a journalist from West Michigan serves as a co-moderator. My money is on this not actually happening.

[dmmidmi]

Land's attack ads are awful.

Yes, they are. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to prepare myself for even more of them: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/2014/09/18/land-camp-floods-tv-airwaves/15828283/

Only Mitch McConnell has spent more in advertisements.

Is it November yet?

[dmmidmi]

We actually get to see a debate between Schauer and Snyder! http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/09/michigan_gov_rick_snyder_democ.html

[dmmidmi]

More ineptitude from the Land campaign: http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2014/10/01/lands-support-bailout-questioned/16506269/

Heather Swift has really had her work cut out for her. Most of Terri Lynn Land's official statements and positions have gone through her. She is quoted all the time in mLive, the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, and other local news publications and outlets. Any time there is a question about the Land campaign or her position on a particular area, it is always preceded by "campaign spokesperson Heather Swift told [insert news organization here]."

She has worked her @ss off for Terri Lynn Land, and I applaud her for that. Hopefully she gets a good job somewhere else after Land loses in November.

[dmmidmi]

If you ever wanted to ask Terri Lynn Land a question, here is your (probably one and only) chance: http://wkar.org/post/terri-lynn-land-take-questions-michigan-calling

She will be on Michigan Public Radio from 9:00am-10:00am on Friday morning. Good luck getting through.

[dmmidmi]

The reviews are in for Terri Lynn Land's Michigan Public Radio appearance: http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/brian-dickerson/2014/10/04/land-senate-michigan/16673985/

Basically, she said a whole lot of nothing.

[dmmidmi]

A few things here...

Land bought space on 85(!) billboards in Metro Detroit: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/10/06/terri-lynn-land-plasters-metro-detroit-billboards/16808059/

Michael Bloomberg's PAC is now running ads for Rick Snyder: http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/10/michael_bloomberg_pac_backing.html#incart_river

We have two proposals on the ballot this year, which both have to do with the authorization of wolf hunting (specifically in Michigan's Upper Peninsula)--here's a little more information on both: http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2014/10/michigan_election_2014_the_mea_1.html#incart_river

A "yes" vote on Prop 1 is a vote for establishing a hunting season for wolves. A "yes" vote on Prop 2 would grant the Natural Resources Commission (a seven-member public body whose members are appointed by the Governor and subject to the advice and consent of the Senate) the power to designate wolves and certain other animals as game without legislative action.

Evidence around the wolf population in Michigan, and the danger that population poses to Michiganders, is conflicting--the anecdotal evidence that the state GOP used to push this legislation through the last time turned out to be fabricated (or, at least, only partially true): http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/04/cattle_farmer_john_koski_divis.html.

[dmmidmi]

Local blowhard Frank Beckmann offers his take on Terri Lynn Land's campaign: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/frank-beckmann/2014/10/10/beckmann-terri-lynn-land-autopsy/16992559/

He notably omits most of the significant factors/events that made her campaign stumble and stall:

-Not one mention of her atrocious Mackinac appearance
-Her horrendous ads, specifically the "Really?" ad
-Hiding from the press, and scheduling zero unscripted campaign appearances
-The Julie Boonstra ad started her campaign off on the wrong foot

[dmmidmi]

Here's the Free Press' fact check from last night's Gubernatorial debate: http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2014/10/12/michigan-governor-town-hall-fact-check/17162393/

[dmmidmi]

The answer to Molly Ball's initial question is yes: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/10/did-republicans-blow-the-michigan-senate-race/381399/?single_page=true

[dmmidmi]

Hey! Terri Lynn Land and Bill Huizenga went to a tailgate before GVSU's homecoming game! http://www.lanthorn.com/article/2014/10/news-politicians-at-tailgate

[dmmidmi]

Land has finally aired a commercial with a reduced suck level: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2014/10/15/mi_terry_lynn_land_moms_like_me_get_things_done.html

These are the types of commercials she should've been airing all along.

No surprises here, the Detroit News' Rick Snyder endorsement is in: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/10/15/re-elect-snyder-governor-michigan/17322441/

Same with their Supreme Court endorsements: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/10/17/endorsement-michigan-supreme-court/17373641/

Zahra and Viviano are two of the three conservative judges on the ballot (the third is James Robert Redford--the News is endorsing Bill Murphy over him).

No word yet on who the News will endorse for US Senate. They may not endorse anybody.

[dmmidmi]

In other news, water is wet, the sky is blue, and bears sh!t in the woods.

I'm not sure what Landslide Terri was thinking, when she demanded that the Detroit Free Press issue a retraction/apology for an op-ed regarding her Michigan Public Radio appearance before she would meet with the editorial board for an endorsement meeting.

By the way, if you want to laugh, the Michigan Republican Party actually paid for this to be made: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/20/gary-peters-sharknado-ad_n_6015666.html

[dmmidmi]

Bubba is stopping in Flint to campaign for Peters and Schauer: http://woodtv.com/2014/10/22/bill-clinton-visiting-flint-to-campaign-for-dems/

This is interesting: http://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/2014/10/gov_rick_snyder_signs_anti-tes.html Rick Snyder signed a bill that would prevent auto manufacturers from selling automobiles directly to consumers at retail in Michigan. Most people think this was directly targeted towards Tesla, who does exactly this.

And this is absolutely awesome: http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/10617/attorney_richard_bernstein_in_lead_in_supreme_court_race_poll_shows#.VEe57yLF8Xs

I can't imagine that anybody else is polling the Supreme Court races. For those who aren't familiar, the Sam Bernstein Law Firm is based in Farmington Hills and specializes in personal injury cases. For years, they've been notorious for flooding the airwaves with awkward commercials. These commercials have only gotten more awkward since the kids joined the firm.

The Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings broadcast from the 1-800-CALL-SAM studios, and their commercials air during sporting events constantly. I encourage you to find some of their commercials on YouTube.

[dmmidmi]

MLive Media group has released their endorsements (none of these are surprising):

Governor: Rick Snyder
Senate: Gary Peters
AG: Bill Schuette
SOS: Ruth Johnson