June 06, 2019 at 07:34PM
Peters' campaign manager circulated a memo this week pointing to the "battle-tested" senator's tough victories across four very different election cycles and his strong fundraising. Dan Farough also criticized James for standing by Trump's agenda "2,000%" and questioned his positions on health care and abortion.
"Gary has proven himself to be the kind of public servant who doesn't waste time grandstanding and instead focuses on getting the job done," Farough wrote, citing Peters' work on health coverage, prescription drugs, skills training, college affordability and the Great Lakes. The Peters campaign had $3 million as of March 31.
James secured Trump's endorsement over a self-funding millionaire in the 2018 GOP primary, advancing to face Stabenow and losing by 6.5 percentage points. She had won past elections by much more in a state where Democrats have long carried Senate races. While James faced criticism as a Trump cheerleader, he never was bloodied with a negative, multimillion-dollar barrage of TV ads — which could change in 2020.
"I can agree with the president without worshipping him, and I can disagree with him without attacking him," James said. "I'm going to run on my own record of accomplishment. This race is about Michigan."
House Republicans were hoping he would run for a suburban Detroit seat in 2020. James said he decided on a Senate run because, if he believes he could have the most positive impact statewide as a senator.
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Follow Eggert on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00
Peters' campaign manager circulated a memo this week pointing to the "battle-tested" senator's tough victories across four very different election cycles and his strong fundraising. Dan Farough also criticized James for standing by Trump's agenda "2,000%" and questioned his positions on health care and abortion.
"Gary has proven himself to be the kind of public servant who doesn't waste time grandstanding and instead focuses on getting the job done," Farough wrote, citing Peters' work on health coverage, prescription drugs, skills training, college affordability and the Great Lakes. The Peters campaign had $3 million as of March 31.
James secured Trump's endorsement over a self-funding millionaire in the 2018 GOP primary, advancing to face Stabenow and losing by 6.5 percentage points. She had won past elections by much more in a state where Democrats have long carried Senate races. While James faced criticism as a Trump cheerleader, he never was bloodied with a negative, multimillion-dollar barrage of TV ads — which could change in 2020.
"I can agree with the president without worshipping him, and I can disagree with him without attacking him," James said. "I'm going to run on my own record of accomplishment. This race is about Michigan."
House Republicans were hoping he would run for a suburban Detroit seat in 2020. James said he decided on a Senate run because, if he believes he could have the most positive impact statewide as a senator.
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Follow Eggert on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00