By Rick Pluta
Congressman Thaddeus McCotter has ended his bid to win re-election as a write-in candidate after failing to file enough petition signatures to qualify for the primary ballot.
The Republican has represented a suburban Detroit district for a decade. A lot of people questioned his decision to launch a write-in bid after failing in one of the most basic responsibilities of a political candidate. Other candidates are making plans to enter the race with their own write-in challenges to a Tea Party supporter who is the only Republican who will appear on the August primary ballot. McCotter would also be running in a re-drawn district that's largely new to him.
In a statement, McCotter said dropping his write-in effort will allow him to focus on his official responsibilities as he winds up his congressional career. He said it will also allow him to cooperate with the criminal investigation into how hundreds of faked, photo-copied signatures were submitted to state elections officials.
Copyright 2012, MPRN