MI-07: Bombshell — GOP Ex-Rep. Schwarz Endorses Schauer

Game-changer:

Former U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz is endorsing Democratic challenger Mark Schauer in his former south-central Michigan congressional district, even though he’s a Republican.

Schwarz told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he decided to endorse Schauer over Republican Rep. Tim Walberg because the anti-tax Club for Growth began running ads critical of Schauer. […]

Schwarz says he couldn’t remain neutral in the race once the group got involved. He says it’s “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Schwarz, a relatively moderate Republican, was defeated in the GOP primary in 2006 after the Club For Growth flooded the district with over $1 million in negative advertising. Earlier in the day, the Club announced that they’d be once again injecting themselves into this district by spending $175,000 on new attack ads against Democrat Mark Schauer.

In the end, it looks like that was a costly buy — for wingnut Rep. Tim Walberg.

27 thoughts on “MI-07: Bombshell — GOP Ex-Rep. Schwarz Endorses Schauer”

  1. I know of at least 3 current or former national GOP officeholders endorsing Dems.

    Gilchrest (MD-01) – Endorsed Kravitol (D) for his seat and Obama for President

    Schwarz (MI-07) – Endorsed Schauer (D) for his old seat

    Hagel (NE-SEN) – Endorsed Obama

    Am I missing anyone else?

  2. He always struck me as a really good guy.  I bet he may have survived that race had he voted for more of those anti-earmark amendments that Flake always loves.  Those were the main ammo of those Club For Growth ads.  It’s difficult to be a pro-choicer in that party anymore as well of course.  

  3. Pete McCloskey endorsed a lot of Democratic congressional candidates in California and also endorsed Obama.  He apparently has switched parties.

    Obama is also endorsed by John Anderson, Jim Leach, Paul O’Neill, and Lowell Weicker.

  4. of the cycle, and Schauer is the only one that I have donated to.  Any polls out of there since the rediculus Walberg internal showing him up 10?  The Schauer internal with him up 6 is way more accurate.  This endorsement puts this race as tossup as best, but I would call it leans Democrat.  

    Schauer is a spectacular candidate, very well liked, a good fit for the district, and one of the few challengers to outraise the incumbent this cycle.

    I encourage everyone to show some love to my home state Democrats by donating to Schauer or Peters.  

    http://www.actblue.com/entity/

    http://www.actblue.com/entity/

    We really missed out on Michigan last cycle.  I think we could have won 3 seats here if we really invested in it.  This time we’re back with better candidates, and I think we can switch the Republican gerrymander from a 9-6 Republican advantage to a 8-7 Democrat advantage.

  5. Sharon Reiner lost the Dem primary to Mark Schauer and now she is running as an independent in MI-07. Anybody knows about her? Is she a liberal? Is she a consevative? Is she being paid by the Republicans? Is she Jon Powers’ long lost twin sister? Is she Ralph Nader’s ex girl-friend? Who is she?

  6. The Club for Growth is a major problem for Republicans. The Club jumps into races and screws up the primary for the moderate candidate. They did it in New Mexico and now Tom Udall is cruising, where I’m sure Heather Wilson would have at least put up a decent fight.

    Same thing in MI-07. A bunch of rich extremists killing off moderate Republicans. I would almost approve if the Club didn’t target Dems for the general. Not like their doing a decent job of that, either.

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