Thaddeus McCotter presidential campaign, 2012
Encyclopedia
The Thaddeus McCotter presidential campaign of 2012 began when Congressman
Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan
filed papers with the Federal Election Commission
on July 1, 2011, announcing his intentions to run for the Republican Party
's 2012
nomination for President of the United States. He officially announced his candidacy the next day at a rock festival outside of Detroit.
McCotter, who has served in Congress since 2003, was encouraged to run by Fox News' Greg Gutfeld
. He bases his campaign on the "five core principles" listed on his campaign website and uses the slogan, Seize Freedom!, which comes from the title of his 2011 book. He focuses his campaign on the reform of government and opposition to Wall Street
.
Commentators have noted that McCotter's lack of name-recognition hindered his chances at nomination, and he had received less than one percent in political polls.
On September 22, 2011, McCotter dropped out of the Presidential race and endorsed Mitt Romney
.
Commission. He served on the board until his 1998 election to the Michigan State Senate. He remained in the State Senate until 2002 when he won the election to represent Michigan's 11th congressional district
. In Congress, McCotter was assigned to the House Financial Services Committee and has served as the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee since 2006. In 2008, he was named head of his party's Fiscal Integrity Task Force, where he gained a reputation as a leading House opponent of pork barrel
spending. He is also a member of the moderate Republican Main Street Partnership
. McCotter voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
and the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
, but supported the bailout of the automobile industry. Furthermore, he is viewed as a proponent of labor unions, supporting an increase in the minimum wage
and advocating fair trade
with China. Nevertheless, he is described by the Detroit Free Press
as a "conservative's conservative" and labeled a "far-right Republican" by GovTrack
.
Speculation about a presidential run began several months after the release of his February 2011 book Seize Freedom! American Truths and Renewal in a Chaotic Age. He appeared on the April 22 episode of Fox News' Red Eye
and was asked by host Greg Gutfeld
to enter the race. Five days later, political commentator S.E. Cupp
listed McCotter as a potential candidate in her New York Daily News
column. McCotter confirmed in May 2011 that he was seriously considering a run for the presidency. He told Politico that he felt most Republicans lacked enthusiasm for the crop of candidates and stated that he would make a decision within two weeks. However, after two weeks, no decision was forthcoming. In June, speculation of his presidential ambitions increased as he attacked Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney
during his Detroit visit. McCotter connected the former Massachusetts governor
to President Barack Obama
and argued that people "think Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama are not rivals [but] running mate
s". Later in June, he addressed the Republican Leadership Conference
's in New Orleans and was entered into the event's straw poll
, but received only two votes. Close to this time, aides said that McCotter was still undecided about a run, however, he reportedly paid $18,000 for a prime hotel spot for the August 13 Ames Straw Poll
. He visited Iowa and announced that he would reveal his campaign plans prior to the straw poll. On June 30, Politico reported that McCotter was ready to begin a campaign.
is endangered" was based on his book Seize Freedom! and listed the "five core principles" for his run. These included:
On July 2, McCotter officially announced his candidacy at the WAAM
-sponsored "Freedom Festival" in Whitmore Lake, Michigan
. He explained that "what we need in Washington is someone who understands that the wave of the future is not big government, but self-government". He also played with his rock band at the event. Upon his entrance, Charlie Cook
of the Cook Political Report
rated McCotter's chances of nomination as "virtually impossible". CBS News
and other outlets commented on McCotter's lack of name recognition and described him as a "little-known" candidate. Reportedly, after the announcement he moved campaign funds of about $480,000 from his congressional account to his presidential account. Political communications operative Mark Corallo
was hired along with a core group of advisers that included Eric Uelind, who served as chief of staff under Senator Bill Frist
, and former Iowa representative Chris Rants.
. However, he received media attention for his hometown newspaper's reaction to his run. An editorial in The Oakland Press
, based out of Oakland County, Michigan
wrote that the idea of a McCotter presidency "isn’t a pleasant thought and is, in fact, a bit scary". The piece went further, adding that "the representative comes off as cold, arrogant and egotistical". McCotter largely ignored the criticism, and continued his campaign in New Hampshire, focusing on the "fundamental restructuring of government" and signing of the Pro-Life Leadership Pledge. He hired radio host Chris Buck as the leader of operations in New Hampshire.
McCotter returned to Iowa in mid-July for further campaign events. Around this time, Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post put McCotter's odds at winning the Ames straw poll at one hundred to one, last place among the candidates listed. Furthermore, a Harris poll conducted July 11–18 found that 92 percent of voters were not familiar with McCotter, and less than one percent supported him when matched with his fellow presidential contenders. McCotter hoped to build support with Twitter, which he used to bypass the news media and connect directly with his supporters. Campaign spokesman Randall Thompson commented that the candidate was "relying on social media" for his run and that "he’s developed a very loyal following". On July 20, he participated in the first-ever Twitter debate along with fellow candidates Gary Johnson
, Herman Cain
, Michele Bachmann
, Newt Gingrich
and Rick Santorum
. When asked by moderator S.E. Cupp whether he thought President Obama was anti-Israel
, McCotter explained that Obama's "motivations are not the issue, the impact of his policies, both proposed and pursued, have strained our relationship" with Israel. In late July, during the height of the debt ceiling crisis, McCotter canceled several appearances in Iowa and returned to Washington. He supported the plan put forth by House Speaker John Boehner
, and voted in favor of the compromise bill. He was the only presidential candidate to approve the bill in Congress as Bachmann and Ron Paul
both voted against it.
Ahead of the Ames Straw Poll, McCotter was excluded from the Fox News presidential debate because he did not reach the polling threshold. He was the only candidate to have secured a spot on the ballot and not participate in the debate. In response, he planned to videotape his answers to the questions asked and post it on his website and Facebook
account.
Asked during an interview whether he enjoyed his presidential campaign, McCotter replied, "No. It was the worst 15 minutes of my life."
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
filed papers with the Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
on July 1, 2011, announcing his intentions to run for the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
's 2012
United States presidential election, 2012
The United States presidential election of 2012 is the next United States presidential election, to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. It will be the 57th quadrennial presidential election in which presidential electors, who will actually elect the President and the Vice President of the United...
nomination for President of the United States. He officially announced his candidacy the next day at a rock festival outside of Detroit.
McCotter, who has served in Congress since 2003, was encouraged to run by Fox News' Greg Gutfeld
Greg Gutfeld
Greg Gutfeld is an American television personality, political satirist, humorist, magazine editor and blogger. Gutfeld is the host of Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld on the Fox News Channel. He is also one of five co-hosts/panelists on Fox News political talk-show The Five, which debuted on July 11, 2011....
. He bases his campaign on the "five core principles" listed on his campaign website and uses the slogan, Seize Freedom!, which comes from the title of his 2011 book. He focuses his campaign on the reform of government and opposition to Wall Street
Wall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
.
Commentators have noted that McCotter's lack of name-recognition hindered his chances at nomination, and he had received less than one percent in political polls.
On September 22, 2011, McCotter dropped out of the Presidential race and endorsed Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
.
Background
McCotter began his political career in 1993 when elected to the Wayne CountyWayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
Commission. He served on the board until his 1998 election to the Michigan State Senate. He remained in the State Senate until 2002 when he won the election to represent Michigan's 11th congressional district
Michigan's 11th congressional district
Michigan's 11th congressional district is a United States Congressional District located just northwest of Detroit, consisting of northwestern Wayne and southwestern Oakland counties...
. In Congress, McCotter was assigned to the House Financial Services Committee and has served as the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee since 2006. In 2008, he was named head of his party's Fiscal Integrity Task Force, where he gained a reputation as a leading House opponent of pork barrel
Pork barrel
Pork barrel is a derogatory term referring to appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district...
spending. He is also a member of the moderate Republican Main Street Partnership
Republican Main Street Partnership
The Republican Main Street Partnership is a group of moderate members of the United States Republican Party. They tend away from the dominant social conservatism of many Republicans and towards a moderate fiscal conservatism and limited government to a degree. The group is the rough equivalent of...
. McCotter voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of , commonly referred to as a bailout of the U.S. financial system, is a law enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis...
and the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
The proposed America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 was an unsuccessful bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 14, 2009. The bill was introduced during the first session of the 111th Congress as part of an effort of the Democratic Party leadership to enact health...
, but supported the bailout of the automobile industry. Furthermore, he is viewed as a proponent of labor unions, supporting an increase in the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
and advocating fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
with China. Nevertheless, he is described by the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
as a "conservative's conservative" and labeled a "far-right Republican" by GovTrack
GovTrack
GovTrack.us is a website developed by then-student Joshua Tauberer who launched it as a hobby. It enables its users to track the bills and members of the United States Congress. Users can add trackers to certain bills. The website collects data on Congress members, allowing the users to check...
.
Speculation about a presidential run began several months after the release of his February 2011 book Seize Freedom! American Truths and Renewal in a Chaotic Age. He appeared on the April 22 episode of Fox News' Red Eye
Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld
Red Eye w/Greg Gutfeld is a late-night/early-morning satirical talk show on the Fox News Channel, airing at 3:00 am ET Tuesday through Saturday. The show features panelists and guests discussing the latest news in politics, pop culture, entertainment, business, sports, and religion...
and was asked by host Greg Gutfeld
Greg Gutfeld
Greg Gutfeld is an American television personality, political satirist, humorist, magazine editor and blogger. Gutfeld is the host of Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld on the Fox News Channel. He is also one of five co-hosts/panelists on Fox News political talk-show The Five, which debuted on July 11, 2011....
to enter the race. Five days later, political commentator S.E. Cupp
S.E. Cupp
Sarah Elizabeth "S. E." Cupp is an American conservative political commentator and writer, co-author of the book Why You're Wrong About the Right with Brett Joshpe, and author of the book Losing Our Religion: The Liberal Media's Attack on Christianity.- Background:Cupp was born in Carlsbad,...
listed McCotter as a potential candidate in her New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
column. McCotter confirmed in May 2011 that he was seriously considering a run for the presidency. He told Politico that he felt most Republicans lacked enthusiasm for the crop of candidates and stated that he would make a decision within two weeks. However, after two weeks, no decision was forthcoming. In June, speculation of his presidential ambitions increased as he attacked Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
during his Detroit visit. McCotter connected the former Massachusetts governor
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
to President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and argued that people "think Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama are not rivals [but] running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
s". Later in June, he addressed the Republican Leadership Conference
Republican Leadership Conference
The Republican Leadership Conference is a political event held in the Southern United States before each presidential election. The event is attended by Republican Party activists, elected officials, and candidates for office. It was formerly known as the Southern Republican Leadership Conference...
's in New Orleans and was entered into the event's straw poll
Straw poll
A straw poll or straw vote is a vote with nonbinding results. Straw polls provide dialogue among movements within large groups, reflecting trends like organization and motivation...
, but received only two votes. Close to this time, aides said that McCotter was still undecided about a run, however, he reportedly paid $18,000 for a prime hotel spot for the August 13 Ames Straw Poll
Ames Straw Poll
The Ames Straw Poll is a presidential straw poll taken by Iowa Republicans. It occurs in Ames, Iowa on the campus of Iowa State University, on a Saturday in August of years in an election cycle in which the Republican presidential nomination seems to be undecided...
. He visited Iowa and announced that he would reveal his campaign plans prior to the straw poll. On June 30, Politico reported that McCotter was ready to begin a campaign.
Announcement
McCotter filed a presidential campaign committee with the FEC and opened a campaign website on July 1, 2011. The website, which warned "your American DreamAmerican Dream
The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of the possibility of prosperity and success. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each...
is endangered" was based on his book Seize Freedom! and listed the "five core principles" for his run. These included:
- "Our liberty is from God not the government"
- "Our sovereignty is in our souls not the soil"
- "Our security is from strength not surrender"
- "Our prosperity is from the private sector not the public sector"
- "Our truths are self-evident not relative"
On July 2, McCotter officially announced his candidacy at the WAAM
WAAM
WAAM is a radio station in Ann Arbor, Michigan that broadcasts on AM 1600. Known as "WAAM Talk 1600" , WAAM broadcasts with 5,000 watts of power. The station is owned by Coolarity A2, LLC. Until recently, the station broadcast in AM Stereo.-Early History: WHRV:The station signed on as WHRV in...
-sponsored "Freedom Festival" in Whitmore Lake, Michigan
Whitmore Lake, Michigan
Whitmore Lake is an unincorporated community in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community spans the boundary between Green Oak Township in Livingston County and Northfield Township in Washtenaw County. The United States Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place with this name for...
. He explained that "what we need in Washington is someone who understands that the wave of the future is not big government, but self-government". He also played with his rock band at the event. Upon his entrance, Charlie Cook
Charlie Cook
Charlie Cook , originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, is an American political analyst who specializes in election forecasts and political trends. He attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He delivers election forecasts and rankings in his own publication, The Cook Political Report,...
of the Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five...
rated McCotter's chances of nomination as "virtually impossible". CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
and other outlets commented on McCotter's lack of name recognition and described him as a "little-known" candidate. Reportedly, after the announcement he moved campaign funds of about $480,000 from his congressional account to his presidential account. Political communications operative Mark Corallo
Mark Corallo
Mark Corallo is a political communications and public relations professional, who is currently the co-founder and co-principal of Corallo Comstock...
was hired along with a core group of advisers that included Eric Uelind, who served as chief of staff under Senator Bill Frist
Bill Frist
William Harrison "Bill" Frist, Sr. is an American physician, businessman, and politician. He began his career as an heir and major stockholder to the for-profit hospital chain of Hospital Corporation of America. Frist later served two terms as a Republican United States Senator representing...
, and former Iowa representative Chris Rants.
Campaign events
McCotter embarked on his first official campaign trip to the first-in-the-nation primary state of New HampshireNew Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. However, he received media attention for his hometown newspaper's reaction to his run. An editorial in The Oakland Press
The Oakland Press
The Oakland Press is a daily newspaper published in Oakland County, Michigan. Owned by Journal Register Company, The Oakland Press was originally named The Pontiac Press until 1972.-External links:* *...
, based out of Oakland County, Michigan
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
wrote that the idea of a McCotter presidency "isn’t a pleasant thought and is, in fact, a bit scary". The piece went further, adding that "the representative comes off as cold, arrogant and egotistical". McCotter largely ignored the criticism, and continued his campaign in New Hampshire, focusing on the "fundamental restructuring of government" and signing of the Pro-Life Leadership Pledge. He hired radio host Chris Buck as the leader of operations in New Hampshire.
McCotter returned to Iowa in mid-July for further campaign events. Around this time, Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post put McCotter's odds at winning the Ames straw poll at one hundred to one, last place among the candidates listed. Furthermore, a Harris poll conducted July 11–18 found that 92 percent of voters were not familiar with McCotter, and less than one percent supported him when matched with his fellow presidential contenders. McCotter hoped to build support with Twitter, which he used to bypass the news media and connect directly with his supporters. Campaign spokesman Randall Thompson commented that the candidate was "relying on social media" for his run and that "he’s developed a very loyal following". On July 20, he participated in the first-ever Twitter debate along with fellow candidates Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson may refer to:*Gary Johnson , former Governor of New Mexico and candidate for President in 2012*Gary Johnson , American politician, Wisconsin State Assembly...
, Herman Cain
Herman Cain
Herman Cain is a candidate for the 2012 U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination.Cain has a background as a business executive, syndicated columnist, and radio host from Georgia. He served as chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza from 1986 to 1996...
, Michele Bachmann
Michele Bachmann
Michele Marie Bachmann is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing , a post she has held since 2007. The district includes several of the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities, such as Woodbury, and Blaine as well as Stillwater and St. Cloud.She is currently a...
, Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
and Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
Richard John "Rick" Santorum is a lawyer and a former United States Senator from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Santorum was the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference -making him the third-ranking Senate Republican from 2001 until his leave in 2007. Santorum is considered both a social...
. When asked by moderator S.E. Cupp whether he thought President Obama was anti-Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, McCotter explained that Obama's "motivations are not the issue, the impact of his policies, both proposed and pursued, have strained our relationship" with Israel. In late July, during the height of the debt ceiling crisis, McCotter canceled several appearances in Iowa and returned to Washington. He supported the plan put forth by House Speaker John Boehner
John Boehner
John Andrew Boehner is the 61st and current Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party, he is the U.S. Representative from , serving since 1991...
, and voted in favor of the compromise bill. He was the only presidential candidate to approve the bill in Congress as Bachmann and Ron Paul
Ron Paul
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
both voted against it.
Ahead of the Ames Straw Poll, McCotter was excluded from the Fox News presidential debate because he did not reach the polling threshold. He was the only candidate to have secured a spot on the ballot and not participate in the debate. In response, he planned to videotape his answers to the questions asked and post it on his website and Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
account.
Withdrawal
On September 22, 2011, McCotter withdrew from the Presidential race, and threw his support behind Romney. He also announced that he was seeking re-election to Congress.Asked during an interview whether he enjoyed his presidential campaign, McCotter replied, "No. It was the worst 15 minutes of my life."
External links
- McCotter 2012, official campaign site
- Official FEC filing