Boldened by a strong national showing in the 2010 elections, Republicans are trying to lay the groundwork to unseat U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2012.
Surveys recently commissioned by Republicans concluded that the Democratic Michigan senator is vulnerable in her next election, with only 33 percent of likely voters saying they would vote to re-elect Stabenow. About 36 percent said they would first consider another candidate.
The study, prepared by Wilson Research and Sterling Corp., concluded that Stabenow failed to gain the commanding leads expected of an incumbent against two possible Republican opponents – former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra.
In those matchup polls, Stabenow led Land 46 percent to 41 percent and led Hoekstra 47 percent to 41 percent.
Neither Land nor Hoekstra are confirmed candidates for the 2012 Senate seat, but the pollster tested them because both have previously run statewide campaigns in Michigan and have statewide name recognition.
