Yesterday, there were 5 Republicans primarying long-time incumbent Fred Upton in his southwest Michigan swing district-- one term Trumpist state Rep Steve Carra, Berrien Co. Commissioner Erza Scott, failed 2020 candidate Pastor Jerry Solis, Afghan War vet Jon Rocha and deranged anti-Choice sociopath Gina Johansen. MI-06, which has a PVI of R+5 includes all of Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St Joseph and Van Buren counties and most of Allegan County, had a big jolt when Trump picked Carra, giving him a canned, one-size-fits-all endorsement:
Trump is seething with hated for Upton, a Whirlpool heir, because he was one of the 10 House Republicans who was independent and brave enough to vote to impeach him after Trump's failed coup attempt. In the endorsement for what's-his-name, Trump was obviously more interested in Upton, who he referred to as a RINO, than in the jerk he was endorsing.
Trump beat Biden there last year, 51.3% to 46.8% but Upton did significantly better, winning his reelection 55.9% to 40.2% against a credible Democratic candidate. These are the Trump numbers for each county (plus the COVID vaccination rates, all of which except Democratic-leaning Kalamazoo are below the state's 51% average):
Allegan Co.- Trump 61.6% (43% fully vaccinated)
Berrien Co.- Trump 52.7% (47% fully vaccinated)
Cass Co.- Trump 63.6% (36% fully vaccinated)
Kalamazoo Co.- Trump 39.5% (52% fully vaccinated)
St Joseph Co.- Trump 64.8% (37% fully vaccinated)
Van Buren Co.- Trump 55.2% (47% fully vaccinated)
None of the other Republicans have dropped out yet, but that comes next. There hasn't been a Democrat jumping into the race yet.
Later in the day, Trump attacked Pennsylvania conservative Senator Pat Toomey, who voted to convict him and who has announced his retirement. Trump had no sensible reason to attack Toomey other than rage and pique. Projecting his own intellectual shortcomings and low IQ, he referred to Toomey, a Harvard graduate, as "not the sharpest tool in the shed."
Last week Trump endorsed wife-beater and mediocre neo-fascist author Sean Parnell, who many of the Democratic candidates think will be the easiest Republican to beat. The Leigh Valley Morning Call, Toomey's hometown paper, pointed out last night that "Trump’s statement came after Toomey was quoted by CNBC as urging fellow Republicans not to nominate Trump as their 2024 presidential candidate due to Trump’s 'completely unacceptable' behavior following the 2020 presidential election... 'I think that the future of our party is to be a party of ideas and not to be a party about any one individual, and I think we will learn a lot from the next set of primaries,' CNBC quoted Toomey as saying. 'I think after what happened post-2020 election, I think the president’s behavior was completely unacceptable, so I don’t think he should be the nominee to lead the party in 2024.'"
