Joe the Plumber Backed Benishek Claims 14 Vote Lead in Congress Seat
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Perhaps the famed "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher from Lucas County, Ohio, who came in the few days of the campaign to aid Benishek, turned the tide among conservatives.
Democrat State Rep. Gary McDowell awaits the winner of the Dan Benishek-Jason Allen brouhaha in the First Congressional District, that includes part of Bay County.
This is the seat now held by U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak that ended up with an apparent one vote Benishek lead on election night. Now Tea Party candidate Benishek, whose campaign slogan was "Enough is Enough!" claims a 14 vote lead.
State Sen. Allen and Dr. Benishek staged a nasty dust-up in the Republican primary while Rep. McDowell was unopposed in the huge 31-county district stretching from the U.P. to Bay County's Monitor Township. It is the largest Congressional district east of the Mississippi River.
Perhaps the famed "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher from Lucas County, Ohio, who came in the few days of the campaign to aid Benishek, turned the tide among conservatives.
Pundits are going wild trying to predict the effects of the close race in which Dr. Benishek is now trying to recruit volunteers to help, as he says "protect his victory."
"If Jason Allen chooses not to concede and calls for a recount, we will need to have hundreds of volunteers join us in monitoring those recounts to make sure there are no mistakes or 'shenanigans' in the recount process," Dr. Benishek says on his website.
"We have been inundated with calls from our supporters as well as supporters of some of our other primary opponents (Remember: on election day, 6 in 10 voters in MI-1 voted for a new direction for our country and said "no" to career politicians). But we are only about halfway to our volunteer goal. Please volunteer a day of your time to help us protect our victory!"
Michigan's Secretary of State will receive certified results from all 31 counties in the district through August 11th, as county canvassing boards continue to certify official election results.
To date, there has been no major election day issue found, with the Benishek Team monitoring every county canvass, said the Benishek campaign, continuing:
"The 12-vote lead reported by the AP on election night has been maintained- county results have been re-checked and has shown that results from the Secretary of State are not the same as the results reported by the counties. In fact, our re-check has shown Dan's lead increase to 14 votes."
"Results will be certified next week, and Dr. Dan Benishek is expected to be the declared winner.
"Given the close electoral circumstances, we are anticipating our opponent, Jason Allen, will call for a recount. This has the potential to delay the certification of Dan's candidacy.
"We will do anything and everything to protect liberty, freedom and small government, and keep the friend of unions and a veteran Lansing politician out of office- we will protect the victory of Dr. Dan Benishek. However, we cannot do it alone. We need your help."
Dr. Benishek was born in Iron River, Michigan. His mother was of Polish descent and his father of Bohemian descent. His dad worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and then in the iron mines of Iron County. He died in a mining accident in 1957 and his mother, with the help of family, raised him and his brother.
He graduated from West Iron County High School in 1970. He earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Michigan in 1974 and graduated from Wayne State Medical School in 1978. He's served as a general surgeon in Michigan's Upper Peninsula since 1983.
Dr. Benishek and his wife, Judy, live in Crystal Falls. They have five children and two grandchildren.
He's an avid hunter and fisherman, and an NRA member.
Allen is currently serving his second term in Michigan's 37th State Senate District, representing Grand Traverse, Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Chippewa and Mackinac counties. Allen is chairman of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee and the Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Economic Development & Regulatory Reform, Health Policy; and Local, Urban and State Affairs committees.
While in the Senate, Allen has focused on initiating and developing fiscally conservative economic initiatives necessary to create jobs and stimulate Michigan's lagging economy. Initiatives have focused on manufacturing, venture capital investment, research and development, and revitalizing cities to foster business investment and growth.
For over 20 years, McDowell has served as Treasurer of McDowell Hay, Inc., a 1,000-acre hay farming and distribution company in Rudyard that he owns with his brother. He also worked for more than 3 decades as a driver for United Parcel Service before retiring in 2003.
McDowell served on the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners for 22 years, including four as board chairman, before being elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2004.
He serves on numerous local boards and belongs to several area organizations, including the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation, the Rudyard Lions Club, the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chippewa County Farm Bureau and the Sault Elks Club. ###
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