Michigan Politics
Debbie Stabenow Runs to the Middle
By George Weeks

In the latest ratings from the National Journal, Michigan's Carl Levin is one of the most liberal U.S. senators. Representative John Conyers (DDetroit) ranks among the most liberal members of the House. No surprise on either count.

But Senator Debbie Stabenow - dubbed "Liberal Debbie" by the Michigan GOP in her two campaigns - was among senators in 2006 competitive races who, says the magazine, "ran to the middle" by voting more moderately during the campaign year than they did during the first five years of their term.

Stabenow's 2001-05 average composite "liberal score" on votes was 87.7 - meaning she was more liberal than 87.7 percent of senators in ratings by the magazine, which has been publishing annual ideological scales since 1981.

But Stabenow's liberal score dropped to 68 in 2006, making her the 34th most liberal senator. Levin, with a 85.3 liberal score, ranked 14th in the magazine's evaluation of 82 key votes on economic, social, and foreign issues.

Based on 95 House votes, Michigan's six-member Democratic delegation was the 11th most liberal in that chamber. Michigan's nine-member GOP delegation was 27th among the states on the composite "conservative score."

In fact, four Michigan Republicans were rated as "centrists," none more in the middle than Vern Ehlers of Grand Rapids, an environmental champion who was 50-50 on liberalconservative scores. The others: Thaddeus McCotter of Livonia, Fred Upton of St. Joseph, and Joe Schwarz of Battle Creek, a freshman who lost in the 2006 GOP primary to now- Representative Tim Walberg of Tipton, who could emerge this year as the most conservative in the delegation.

The Up North Three

In the latest rating, eight-term 2nd District Representative Pete Hoekstra (R-Holland) has Michigan's most conservative voting record, ranking 62nd in the House with a conservative score of 82.8. He was in the 90s on economic and social issues, but 63 on foreign issues, reflecting his laudable chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee and willingness to criticize the Bush Administration on some matters.

Consistent with his past record, eight-term 1st District Representative Bart Stupak of Menominee was the Michigan Democrat with the most conservative vote rating - 28.7. His liberal score of 71.3 placed him 130th in the House. His 63 liberal rating on social issues was far below most Michigan Democrats.

Nine-term 4th District Representative Dave Camp (RMidland), whose sixth ranking in seniority in the Michigan delegation is highest of the northern three, had a 75.5 conservative score last year, fourth in the state delegation and 112th in the House.

Voting record ratings, especially those compiled by interest groups, are important factors in determining endorsements and financial commitments. But they matter little to the average voter.

In his five elections, Republicans branded Levin "too liberal for Michigan." But there he is, sitting on Capitol Hill as Michigan's longest-serving senator.

In the past, Camp and Hoekstra have been mentioned as possible Levin challengers. They may run some day for the Senate, but not against Levin in 2008.

There's some speculation again about Jane Abraham, wife of ex-Senator Spencer Abraham, who lost his seat after one term to Stabenow in 2000. She's a vice-chair of the Michigan GOP and good on the stump.

The last issue of Inside Michigan Politics newsletter said, "She has some name ID, and a lot of ambition. Besides, she's a female, which, everything being equal, may count for a little something extra."

So the newsletter commissioned a poll of 600 likely voters by Lansing-based Marketing Resource Group for a preliminary Levin-Abraham match-up. Predictably, Levin was favored, 54 percent to 30 percent.

It's relatively meaningless at this stage. Levin or just about any incumbent will be opposed by about a third of voters.

But, after month after month of presidential polls about 2008, it's interesting to see one on Michigan's biggest pending statewide race. Levin is a leading critic of the Bush Administration on Iraq, an issue that will be paramount in his reelection campaign.

George Weeks retired last year after 22 years as political columnist for The Detroit News. His weekly Michigan Politics column is syndicated by Superior Features.