Congresman Kerry Bentivolio
The Tea Party made some impressive gains in 2010 in Michigan's congressional races.
Can key candidates hold on this year?
Marisa Schultz of the Detroit News reports that key Republicans in Michigan are playing defense this year.
She writes that tea party favorites, incumbents Reps. Justin Amash of Cascade Township and Kerry Bentivolio of Milford, face well-financed primary challenges. Businessman Brian Ellis of the Grand Rapids area is going up again Amash and Farmington Hills attorney and mortgage specialist David Trott is running against Bentivolio.
“The establishment strikes back,” Paul Welday, a GOP consultant who was congressional chief of staff for former Republican Rep. Joe Knollenberg, told the News.
The News goes on to write:
But the races have their differences. All of Amash’s Michigan congressional colleagues have taken the unusual step of deciding not to give him money to support his campaign for a third term; Bentivolio’s underfunded campaign is getting a boost from the establishment, via House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
