Election 2012: Candidates' Post Primary Thoughts
By Carol Cain, CBS62
There's no rest for the weary as Pete Hoekstra found as he was in hardcore campaign mode early Wednesday doing an interview with CBS62's "First Forecast Mornings" and talking of the next phase of his bid to beat U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow.
It was only hours after winning a heated battle for the U.S. Republican Senate position in Michigan's primary.
Hoekstra, of Holland, won over Cornerstone Schools Co-Founder Clark Durant and former Kent County Probate Judge Randy Hekman.
"We got a few hours rest but we're already back at it," said Hoekstra, who knows he is in a tough battle against Stabenow who is fierce campaigner and prolific fundraiser.
"It's about holding (President Barack) Obama and Debbie Stabenow accountable for the disapproving direction they have led our country in," Hoekstra added of the message he will take into the fall contest.
Rep. John Conyers also won the Democratic primary in the 13th Congressional District and talked of some surprises on the campaign trail.
"I was surprised that they knew me," he said of areas he visited in the newly drawn district outside of Detroit. Indeed, running for congress 25 times does have some advantages.
Conyers, a Democrat, added that President Barack Obama will have a tougher time winning Michigan in the general election against GOP Mitt Romney.
"Obama carried Michigan in 2008. But now it will be difficult because of the unemployment rate in our state and country," he said.
Political newcomer and tea party activist Kerry Bentivolio won in the GOP's 11th Congressional District over GOP write-in candidate Nancy Cassis.
"This is a huge victory for the grassroots who are fed up with government spending and borrowing from our kids and grandchildren's futures," said Bentivolio.
CBS62's Sydney Bowden contributed to this report
You can hear more conversation about Michigan's 2012 primary this Sunday 11:30 a.m. on CBS62 when the political roundtable appears on "Michigan Matters. Carol Cain is senior producer and host of "Michigan Matters." She writes about politics and business in Sunday's Detroit Free Press. She can be reached at clcain@cbs.com.
