GRAND RAPIDS, MI Despite glowing praise of U.S. Rep. Justin Amash's two-year tenure in Congress, one libertarian blogger thinks he should stay out of the race for retiring Michigan Sen. Carl Levin's seat. <\/p>\n
Ron Davis, writing on the libertarian blog United Liberty, urges Amash to stay planted in his 3rd Congressional District because he'd have an uphill battle. <\/p>\n
Amash has not said whether he'll run for Senate, but earlier this week indicated he was \"certainly open\" to the possibility. <\/p>\n
A number of heavy-hitting prospective Republican candidates have been named since Levin's March 7 announcement he would not seek a seventh term. <\/p>\n
They include West Michigan politician and former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and Scott Romney, older brother of Mitt. <\/p>\n
Davis, writing on Amash for United Liberty, started his column with effusive praise for the \"actively and openly accountable\" sophomore congressman from Cascade Township. <\/p>\n
\"I wish my Congressman were more like Justin Amash,\" Davis wrote. \"I wish every member of Congress were more like Justin Amash.\" <\/p>\n
Still, Davis contends, multiple factors work against an Amash Senate run. He pointed to 2012's race against \"self-funded\" Democrat Steve Pestka, saying Amash's campaign had to dash to ensure they'd eke out a win. <\/p>\n
Amash still bested Pestka by 9 percent in the November general election, but that was the least of Davis's arguments: <\/p>\n
Amash doesnt yet have the statewide name recognition (and the reputation thats sure to follow) necessary to win in a statewide election. If hes still at the point where hes - as the incumbent - concerned about a Democrat with a pile of cash, hes not ready to be running for a seat in the Senate. <\/p>\n
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Rep. Justin Amash should stay out of race for Carl Levin's seat, libertarian blogger says<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" GRAND RAPIDS, MI Despite glowing praise of U.S. Rep. Continue reading