Week of October 12, 2005
Michigan right-wing group launches early attack on Sen. Debbie Stabenow
On Oct. 4, Focus on the Family Action, the right-wing activist group founded by Focus on the Family founder and chairman, James C. Dobson, launched print ads attacking Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) for voting against the nomination of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
The ad campaign, more than a year before the election, is a Republican battle cry that signals the tough race ahead.
Dobson's group is already aiming high in targeting Stabenow, as she is the subject of a glowing Oct. 3 profile by the Detroit Free Press. The profile described Stabenow as "a force in Michigan politics," a woman who "smiles outside," but is "steel inside."
Stabenow, who has risen in the senatorial ranks to win the No. 3 Democratic position as Secretary of the Conference, told the newspaper that she's ready to "campaign hard." Her fundraising shows it! With an estimated $2.5 million raised in the first half of the year, Stabenow had $3.87 million cash on hand as of the June 30 FEC reporting deadline. Stabenow narrowly defeated GOP Sen. Spencer Abraham in 2000 -- a real David-and-Goliath battle -- despite being outspent 2 to 1 by Abraham and his special interest allies.
Her likely opponent, mega-church founder and fundamentalist pastor Keith Butler, a millionaire, had raised $830,320 as of June 30, with $403,000 cash on hand. Butler has effectively locked up the Republican nomination, with support from such GOP luminaries as former vice presidential nominee Jack Kemp and former Cong. J.C. Watts signing on as national finance chairs.
Kathy Castor opponent flexes fundraising muscles
Although he joined the Democratic primary field in Florida's 11th congressional district just seven weeks ago, Al Fox has already raised about $170,000 according to the St. Petersburg Times.
Fox's unexpected fundraising prowess means that Castor, a strong fundraiser, will have to work even harder to raise enough to compete with her Democratic opponents and get her message out to voters.
Her courageous leadership on the Hillsborough County Commission as a stalwart for progressive values has earned Castor kudos and respect beyond Florida's borders. The week after she voted against a ban on displaying gay pride materials in public libraries (the sole commissioner to do so), Castor's name spiked in popularity as a Google search term in the U.S.
Castor is off to a strong start, hiring an experienced team and raising money at a steady clip. Her other potential opponents include state Senate Minority Leader Les Miller, business attorney Scott Farrell, and Michael Steinberg, a lawyer.
Indiana legislator forced to drop discriminatory legislation
A Sept. 29 proposal by Indiana Republican state Sen. Patricia Miller that would have made the practice of artificial reproduction a Class B misdemeanor for women and doctors quickly set off a firestorm of protest, forcing Miller to withdraw her proposal on Oct. 5.
The bill, which sounds like the stuff of science fiction, would force couples unable to conceive to undergo a screening process before gaining access to reproductive technology -- a measure that would effectively criminalize the use of such technology for gay couples and single women.
Miller had asked the Gen. Assembly's Health Finance Commission to consider her proposal before recommending it to the full legislature. The Indiana Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood of Indiana held Miller's feet to the fire until she pulled it.
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