BY RICK PLUTA
Michigan Public Radio Network
Former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land is the first Republican to get into the race for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat. She may not be the last.
Congressmen Mike Rogers and Justin Amash are among the Republicans privately exploring a bid. But Terri Land, who is also a Republican National Committeewoman, said her party can't wait. She said it will take two summers for candidates to take care of the fundraising and voter contacts necessary to win in the November 2014 election.
"It's 24/7 between Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. It really is something that you have to be out there talking to voters, and the earlier the better," Rogers said.
Land said that's especially true for Republicans because Congressman Gary Peters appears to have cleared an unchallenged path to the Democratic nomination. Land said she intends to stay in no matter who else joins the race.
Senator Carl Levin created the open seat by announcing he'll retire next year.
Copyright 2013, MPRN