By Kathy Barks Hoffman
AP Political Writer
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Former President Bill Clinton will campaign in Michigan on Sunday with several Democratic candidates, a person with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the visit had not been officially announced, said the former president will campaign with gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero in Detroit, then with U.S. Rep. John Dingell of Dearborn in the 15th District and Rep. Mark Schauer of Battle Creek in the 7th District.
Dingell, the House's longest-serving member, and Schauer, a freshman, face tough challenges from tea party-backed candidates. The 84-year-old Dingell is running against political newcomer Rob Steele, a 52-year-old Ann Arbor-area cardiologist. Schauer is fighting a challenge from the Republican he beat in 2008, Tim Walberg of Tipton.
A poll released Wednesday by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA showed Schauer apparently leading Walberg, 45 percent to 39 percent, with 7 percent backing third-party candidates and 9 percent undecided. The poll surveyed 400 likely voters in the 7th District last Saturday and Sunday and was commissioned by the Detroit Free Press and television stations WXYZ, WOOD, WILX, and WJRT. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
Bernero, the Lansing mayor, is running against GOP businessman Rick Snyder, who lives near Ann Arbor.
Democrats have also recently deployed Clinton to campaign for congressional members facing tough races in New York state, Florida and Nevada. He campaigned Thursday for Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler in North Carolina.
Wildly popular in Detroit while president, Clinton has remained a big draw in the Motor City since his presidency ended in 2000. He spoke at the NAACP's annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner in Detroit in 2007 and campaigned with Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Democratic congressional members during a rally right before Election Day 2006 at Wayne State University. His campaign stop Sunday could increase Democratic turnout in Detroit, a key cog in any Bernero victory strategy.
The former president most recently was in Michigan in July, when he stopped in Southfield to help raise money for Democratic House Ways and Means Chairman Sander Levin of Royal Oak.
Published: Fri, Oct 22, 2010
