Sinking in “The Perfect Storm”
SOURCE: www.nationalatlas.gov
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
Sinking in “The Perfect Storm”
The 9th District of Michigan The Candidates The Campaign The Results
SOURCE: www.nationalatlas.gov
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
The 9th District of Michigan
Race / Ethnicity 79.5% White 10.0% Black 7.0% Asian 3.5% Hispanic
Occupation 75.2% White Collar
14.8% Blue Collar
Median Income $71.1k in district $48.6k in state
Partisanship Cook Political Report Partisan Voting Index, R +0
‘04 Presidential Vote
Bush, +2%
SOURCE: www.nationalatlas.gov
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
Occupation Insurance agent
Political Experience
Chairman, Oakland County GOP, 1978-1982
First Elected
1992
Committees
Appropriations
Military Service
US Army, 1955-1957
SOURCE: bioguide.congress.gov
The Candidates: Incumbent Joe Knollenberg
Table 1. Congressional Vote Scores for Joe Knollenberg, 1993-2008
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
Occupation Financial advisor College professor
Political Experience
Michigan state senator, 1995-2002
Michigan lottery commissioner, 2003-07
Military Service
US Navy Reserve, 1993-2000, 2001-2005
SOURCE: http://peters.house.gov
The Candidates: Challenger Gary Peters
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
The Campaign: The Polls
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
The Campaign: Finances
Select SourcesSupporting Knollenberg / Attacking Peters
Supporting Peters / Attacking Knollenberg
Knollenberg Campaign $3.7 million
National Association of Realtors $500,000+
National Rifle Association $6,000
Peters Campaign $2.5 million
DCCC $1.6 million
Service Employees International Union
$78,000
Patriot Majority Midwest $450,000
Humane Society of the United States $400,000
Cases in Congressional Campaigns: Incumbents Playing Defense
The Campaign: “Valerie”
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The Campaign: “Joe Knollenberg the Go-to-Guy”
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The Campaign: “Gary Peters”
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The Campaign: “Setting the Record Straight”
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The Campaign: “The Change Michigan Needs”
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The Campaign: “This Time is Enough”
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The Campaign: “Clobbered”
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The Campaign: “Humane Society”
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The Results
The Results
Red precincts won by Knollenberg Blue precincts won by Peters White precincts lie outside of district
SOURCE: Oakland County Clerk