The congressional race that I like to label as Santa vs.
the Grinch – Rep. Kerry Bentivolio facing David Trott – has taken a big turn
with just 10 weeks to go until the Aug. 5 Republican primary.
the Grinch – Rep. Kerry Bentivolio facing David Trott – has taken a big turn
with just 10 weeks to go until the Aug. 5 Republican primary.
Bentivolio’s campaign manager, David Wolkinson, has quit.
This bit of turmoil comes after the accidental congressman’s 2012 campaign manager Robert Dindoffer sued Bentivolio
over money he said he is still owed.
This bit of turmoil comes after the accidental congressman’s 2012 campaign manager Robert Dindoffer sued Bentivolio
over money he said he is still owed.
The Washington Post is reporting that Wolkinson, who held
a key post in Gov. Rick Snyder’s 2010 campaign, left the Bentivolio camp
within the last week. A spokesman for the Milford Republican’s re-election
campaign, Matt Chisholm, told the Post Politics blog that the campaign
will soon make an announcement about a new campaign manager. He declined to
comment on the specifics of Wolkinson’s departure.
a key post in Gov. Rick Snyder’s 2010 campaign, left the Bentivolio camp
within the last week. A spokesman for the Milford Republican’s re-election
campaign, Matt Chisholm, told the Post Politics blog that the campaign
will soon make an announcement about a new campaign manager. He declined to
comment on the specifics of Wolkinson’s departure.
 |
| Wolkinson |
Bentivolio, a former Santa Claus impersonator, is being
heavily outspent by Trott, a Birmingham attorney who is best known for securing
thousands of foreclosures and evictions during the 2007-10 housing crisis.
heavily outspent by Trott, a Birmingham attorney who is best known for securing
thousands of foreclosures and evictions during the 2007-10 housing crisis.
Trott, who is backed by the U.S. and Michigan Chambers of
Commerce, put $800,000 of his own money into his campaign through the end of
March and had more than a $1 million in the bank. Bentivolio has
struggled to raise money and had only about $129,000 in his campaign account,
according to the Post.
Commerce, put $800,000 of his own money into his campaign through the end of
March and had more than a $1 million in the bank. Bentivolio has
struggled to raise money and had only about $129,000 in his campaign account,
according to the Post.
Without a doubt, Bentivolio’s continuing misfortunes will
please his critics, many of whom say the former reindeer rancher would have stood
no chance of winning a House seat if then-Rep. Thad McCotter hadn’t botched his
2012 nominating petitions, which led to his disqualification from that race.
please his critics, many of whom say the former reindeer rancher would have stood
no chance of winning a House seat if then-Rep. Thad McCotter hadn’t botched his
2012 nominating petitions, which led to his disqualification from that race.
The funniest remark I’ve seen so far came from blogger Todd Heywood who said: “The elves are abandoning the sleigh.”
It seems fairly clear that Kerry Bentivolio is on a path
to political oblivion. After he loses the August primary and he’s replaced in
the 11th District seat in November, he will become little more than interesting
asterisk in congressional history.
to political oblivion. After he loses the August primary and he’s replaced in
the 11th District seat in November, he will become little more than interesting
asterisk in congressional history.
But Bentivolio can always return to his previous life. Maybe
some time soon, during the post-election period, we’ll see him again at a
nearby shopping mall.
some time soon, during the post-election period, we’ll see him again at a
nearby shopping mall.
To be fair, Bentivolio was never a "mall Santa." He was a full-on hardcore St. Nicholas cosplayer, with a pretty elaborate costume similar to woodcut illustrations from the early 19th Century — who hired out for town holiday parades and similar functions. That's why he had the sleigh and the reindeer.
And it's actually not clear that Bentivolio must lose in August. For all his advantages in money and early endorsements, David Trott is not well-liked and his reputation as the "Foreclosure King" is a big turn off for voters.
Also, there are Democrats running, and if the race in MI-11 draws more national attention — from Tom Steyer, say, or Bill Maher and his #FlipADistrict project (the District made his short list) — it could even go blue.
It's an uphill fight, but the district was redrawn to protect a Republican incumbent NOT named Kerry Bentivolio. It's practically an open-seat race, in which both the Republicans are deeply flawed.
Seat probably won't go blue since it's an off election year that doesn't look great for the Dems. But if this was 2012, Trott could definitely lose, even with the district re-drawn, which doesn't bode well for his future re-election chances.