Ron Paul Republican has real shot at McCotter's open seat

What was set to be an uneventful re-coronation of 5 term U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter during Michigan’s August 7th primary has suddenly become a competitive race between a political outsider and a last minute write-in candidacy vetted by the Republican party establishment. This, after a bizarre case of ballot signature fraud.

State Board of Canvassers booted McCotter off the primary ballot last Wednesday after the Secretary of State determined that of the 1,800 signatures submitted by his campaign only 244 were valid. The remaining signatures were forgeries, some having been photocopied several times. State Attorney General Bill Schuette is investigating the matter for possible criminal charges.

Democrats Syed Taj of Canton and William Roberts of Redford Township did collect the 1,000 signatures needed to appear on the ballot. The only remaining ballot-qualified Republican in Michigan’s 11th district race is Kerry Bentivolio from Milford.

One would think that Bentivolio, a war vet, former school teacher and Ron Paul Republican who has some traction with Tea Party supporters would be a shoo-in for a district with a 57 percent Republican base, but state GOP leaders are scrambling to put together a write-in campaign to seat a more establishment-friendly candidate – former state Sen. Nancy Cassis.

Read more at Independent Voter Network