Democratic Sen. Stabenow Wins Re-Election Over Republican Bouchard in Michigan
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, capitalizing on voters' discontent with President Bush and policies she says have been bad for Michigan, won re-election Tuesday over Republican challenger Mike Bouchard.
Stabenow's win was based on a statistical analysis of the vote from voter interviews conducted for The Associated Press by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International.
Stabenow was running ahead 2-to-1 in support from voters who identified themselves as union members, according to the statistical analysis. She also was doing well with voters who said the war in Iraq was a very important issue to them.
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Bouchard did well with voters who described themselves as "born again" or evangelical Christians and voters who said they attended church more than once a week. But he was not doing well in most other areas.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Stabenow was awaiting election results with other Democrats at Detroit's Renaissance Center.
"Bouchard didn't have an alternative plan," Michigan Democratic Party chairman Mark Brewer said. "He never said what he would do differently other than to be a rubber stamp for George Bush. I think the voters of this state have had enough of George Bush."
Bouchard was attending a Republican election returns party at the Centerpoint Marriott in Pontiac.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We're not putting much stake in exit polls," said Sarah Anderson, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Republican Party. "We're waiting for the numbers to come in."
Stabenow led in polls and fundraising the entire campaign. Some analysts had thought Bouchard might make a late rally after being helped by more than $1 million in national GOP donations and TV ads in the race's final week.
Also on the ballot were Leonard Schwartz of the Libertarian Party, David Sole of the Green Party and Dennis FitzSimons of the U.S. Taxpayers Party.
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