Is Rep. Bentivolio throwing in the towel?

Could it be that Michigan’s wacky Republican representative,
Kerry Bentivolio, has decided that he is a one-term congressman?

Bentivolio has made little effort to prepare for a
re-election campaign next year despite the likelihood that he may face
well-funded opposition in the GOP primary. 

After all, the 2012 election of
Bentivolio, a reindeer rancher from Oakland County, was a fluke. The 11th
District seat was dropped into his lap when the incumbent, Thad McCotter,
became mired in a scandal and resigned.

When the deadline passed a few days ago for members of
Congress to report their first quarter fundraising, what stood out is that Bentivolio
only raised some $70,000 dollars and one of his campaigns committees is showing
debts of more than $200,000 dollars. In comparison, some House members raise
nearly $1 million in a quarter.

Michigan Radio points out that a prominent Republican,
Paul Welday, former chairman of the Oakland County GOP, responded on his Facebook
page:

“Like it or not, a reality and necessity in politics
is fundraising… It’s a measure of support and indication of strength… This
should be a huge “red flag” across the 11th District of Michigan and
a very real concern for GOP leaders everywhere.”