Ronna Romney McDaniel (Facebook photo)
Will Ronna Romney McDaniel, chair of the Michigan GOP, challenge a U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2018?
She's the logical choice, columnist Susan J. Demas writes:
Michigan GOP Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel is a logical choice to take on Stabenow. Republicans believe the Romney name is still an attribute in Michigan and a female nominee would probably run better against the Democrat.
And there’s the fact that McDaniel is in an interesting political pickle. She’s facing a strong challenge in February from Trump’s Michigan campaign director, Scott Hagerstrom. You’d expect this sort of infighting from the Dems after taking a beating this election. But oddly, the Republican civil war I wrote about prior to the election –– which most us thought would be fueled by a Trump loss –– is still burning brightly.
McDaniel, a niece of Mitt Romney, has shown loyalty to Trump. She went to the GOP convention as a pledged Trup delegate after he won Michigan's primary. Before that, some wondered where she would stand after her uncle went after Trump during the election, calling him a fraud and saying America would be less safe with a Trump presidency. Still, Hagerstrom is seen as more of a loyalist.
Coincidentally, Mitt Romney is now being considered for U.S. secretary of state. Different media outlets report on an internal battle among influential Republicans, with some questioning whether he would be loyal enough to Trump. Many are pushing for Trump loyalist Rudy Giuliani to fill that spot.
If Mitt Romney got that post, it certainly couldn't hurt the Romney name in Michigan if McDaniel were to run.
A Republican hasn't won a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan since 1994 when Spencer Abraham won.
The question now is: Will the Trump name be strong two years from now, and would McDaniel be able to capitalize on it Michigan? Or will it be a toxic brand and hurt any Republican running for Senate?
