Dead Heat in 12th Congressional District Levin Goes Negative as Race Tightens Switalski Issues Debate Challenge

The race for the Democratic nomination in the August 3rd primary took a
turn this weekend as the first negative mailings reached voters in the race
between state Senator Mickey Switalski and Congressman Sander Levin.
Up to this point, Levin has run a classic frontrunner campaign, based on
downplaying the race, ignoring his opponent, and pretending he is not
campaigning.

That all changed this weekend with the arrival of his first attacks on Switalski,
whom he accused of being the only Democrat to make cuts to the education
budget in a 4-page glossy flyer (see attachment). Although Levin denied
doing any polling in an interview with the Macomb Daily last week,
many voters in the 12th have reported phone polls on the race. Frontrunner
candidates only go negative if the race is close, leading to the inference
that Levin is either behind or that the race is too close for comfort.
"The race has entered a new phase," observed Switalski. "My opponent has
acknowledged that I exist, which is a great relief to me personally. Levin
has attacked me, there for I AM. He has put out a piece that spells out a
clear difference between us. I did vote to make cuts to education, because
just like the blue collar people I represent, I believe in paying our bills and
balancing our budget."

"Levin says he spent more on education and didn't make cuts, but he did it
by borrowing money from China, raiding the Social Security Trust Fund,
and running up an astounding $13 trillion deficit."

"Voters elect us to make hard choices," concluded Switalski. "I crossed the
aisle and made hard cuts with the Republicans and centrist Democrats in
the House. He pandered to every interest group and ran the currency printing
presses on overtime to cover his lavish spending."

"I challenge Mr. Levin to visit Michigan to debate our future," said Switalski.
"I don't have much money, but I will pay for a one-way bus ticket from
his summer home in Martha's Vineyard."

Levin's narrow edge in fundraising, $1.7 million versus Switalski's $40,000,
suggests voters can expect a deluge of negative mailings from Levin in the
days ahead.