The crowded field of candidates seeking the Republican presidential nomination expanded Friday when U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter of Michigan filed paperwork indicating that he is entering the contest.
First elected to Congress in 2002, McCotter joins two other House Republicans -- Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and Ron Paul of Texas -- in seeking to defy history and become the first sitting member of that body to be elected president since James Garfield won the 1880 presidential election.
McCotter, who has made frequent appearances on Fox News and other media outlets in recent months, had been exploring the possibility of running for president for months and his team has been active in getting ready in Iowa, the site of the first caucus battle. Besides planning to take part in the Iowa Republicans' straw poll held in Ames in August, the congressman has been touring the Hawkeye State this week with former Iowa House Speaker Chris Rants, who will help lead the fledgling campaign in the state.
Only 45, McCotter is one of the most regular Twitter users in Congress and his team has hinted that the campaign will be heavily invested in using new media to reach out to voters. While McCotter remains largely unknown to many voters, he has sought to garner attention through his interest in music. A guitar player, McCotter plays lead for a band composed of congressmen called the Second Amendments and the website for his congressional campaigns can be found at www.mccotterrocks.com.
While the congressman will officially launch the campaign Saturday in his home state, his team unveiled a website on Friday.
Your American Dream is endangered, the McCotter camp notes on the website. Seize freedom!
The McCotter team also lists five core principles for the campaign, stressing their candidates conservatism. Included among them are a commitment to private-sector growth over government and our liberty is from God, not the government.
A supporter of the American military operations in Iraq, McCotter, a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, was very vocal in opposing TARP and other bank bailouts backed by then-President George W. Bush in 2008. McCotter served in the House Republican leadership, rising to become chairman of the Policy Committee, which he recommended abolishing to save money.
With other candidates having already filed, McCotter has barely registered in the polls. In a Fox News poll released Thursday, he pulled less than 1 percent. McCotter has shown a willingness to go on the attack, launching salvos back in June against Republican front-runner Mitt Romney.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
