MI-7 update from PSR

[goobergunch]

Smith keeps term limits pledge and an open seat race begins

Surprise, surprise -- some of those candidates who pledged to limit their stay in Washington are abiding by their commitment. First elected in 1992 following that redistricting process, Representative Nick Smith is finishing his sixth and last term; most notably, he sits on the House Science Committee and built up a bit of seniority in that panel. Prior to serving in the House, Smith was a longtime state legislator.

The seventh district, while containing some pockets of potential Democratic strength, is favorable territory for Republican candidates. It contains established, rural counties in the southern part of the lower peninsula (don't forget that there's two peninsulas to Michigan!), some following the Ohio and Indiana state border. Jackson, Battle Creek, and Eaton Rapids are the larger cities in the district; they're not major urban centers by any means, though.

<snip>

Since the seat takes in a varied grouping of geographical centers, a number of state legislators see an opportunity for their base support to edge out the others. State Rep. Clark Bisbee hails from Jackson County (which contains Jackson), Ann Norlander is the Calhoun County Clerk (which contains Battle Creek and Marshall), and former State Rep. Paul DeWeese is from the rural portions of Ingham County (the parts not including Lansing and Michigan State University). In a recent poll conducted to gauge voter inclinations in the race, Bisbee took 16 percent, Norlander took 13, and DeWeese took 11.

<snip>

Smith vs. Stabenow?

Mentioned in today's paper was an item about Representative Nick Smith's potential candidacy for U.S. Senate in 2006. Freshman Senator Debbie Stabenow's (D-Lansing) term will be up in that cycle. Stabenow narrowly upset then-GOP Senator Spencer Abraham in 2000 for his first reelection bid. Abraham has subsequently been appointed Secretary of Energy and currently serves in that capacity in the Bush Administration. Like Stabenow, Smith's base is a lower/mid-Michigan congressional district. Unlike Stabenow, however, Smith has not appeared on the statewide ballot or been a central player in hot state topics. Speaking for the average Metro Detroit voter, Smith is an unknown political quantity -- and Metro Detroit is where the bulk of votes are cast in a statewide race.

more...http://www.polstate.com/archives/004264.html#004264