Michigan Politics
Casperson Conquered One Stupak, May Take on Another
By George Weeks

There are stirrings in the northland about another Stupak-Casperson election face-off, a match touted by Republican State Chairman Saul Anuzis and discounted by Democratic State Chairman Mark Brewer.

In 2002, Republican Tom Casperson, owner of a log trucking business in the Upper Peninsula, defeated Menominee Mayor Laurie Stupak, wife of U.S. Representative Bart Stupak (D-Menominee), for the three-county open 108th District state House seat long held by Democrats.

On Friday, the now-termlimited state representative said he is "headed toward making the run" for Stupak's congressional seat next year.

I called Casperson after reading a blog by Republican State Chairman Saul Anuzis declaring: "I'm hearing good things from Washington and their excitement about Tom." When I asked Anuzis for sources of those glad tidings, he cited the National Republican Congressional Committee and White House political guru Karl Rove.

Anuzis also said, "Right now [Casperson] is the only one that has expressed interest and is out talking to people. If he runs, he makes it a race. It will be the logger against a lawyer."

As Anuzis, who calls it "probably one of the most swing districts in the state," seeks to fire up GOP troops about the race, he suggests Stupak might not seek a ninth term and may be tiring of traveling his sprawling district that covers all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula and 15 of the 68 counties below the bridge.

Stupak, who had about a dozen district appearances scheduled over the Memorial Day holiday, discounts any fatigue factor, and said:

"Do I plan on running? Yes. But we're not ready to make any formal announcement."

Said Casperson: "Is it an uphill race? Sure." He and Anuzis contend much of Stupak's past success was that he ran somewhat independent of party leadership. But, they insist, now that he has a subcommittee leadership position in the Democratic-ruled House, he veers to the left and kowtows to wishes of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Stupak bristled: "I do my own thing. I always have."

In response to the above GOP spins on Stupak, here are spins of longtime Democratic state boss Mark Brewer:

"I have never known Bart Stupak to kowtow to anybody - the real congressional swing seats in 2008 will be for those now held by Republican Representatives Joe Knollenberg of Bloomfield Hills, who had a surprisingly tough battle to win his eighth term, and freshman Tim Walberg of Tipton. The real objective of the Michigan GOP is to build up Casperson for a 2010 run for the seat of term-limited Senator Michael Prusi (DIshpeming)."

My spin: Stupak will seek, and most likely again win, reelection - and then be in the speculative mix for a spot on the 2010 statewide ticket - governor, lieutenant governor, or attorney general.

Meanwhile, Stupak, an exstate cop who relishes conducting investigations, has a high visibility role in chairing an oversight subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He was author of a bill passed last week overwhelmingly (284-141) by the House to authorize the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and penalize those found to be gouging at the gas pump.

The reality is that Stupak is not likely to succeed in getting relief at the pump any more than other politicians, including Senator Carl Levin in an oversight role years ago.

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.