Connie Saltonstall Drops Out Of Race In Michigan

We had high hopes for Connie Saltonstall's challenge to Bart Stupak. This morning, having driven Stupak himself out of the race, she also threw in the towel under pressure from the Michigan Democratic Party, no doubt under pressure from the DCCC. Connie's announcement:

I regretfully announce that I am withdrawing from the Democratic primary for the U.S. Representative in Michigan's First Congressional District.

I am forced to do this because it has become apparent to my campaign that the leadership of the Michigan Democratic Paarty has preemptively anointed Gary McDowell as their Democratic candidate. They are replacing Bart Stupak with another Upper Peninsula, Anti-Choice, Anti-Women's healthcare rights candidate. From past experience I realize that with the Michigan Democratic Party actively opposing me, I will not be able to raise the money necessary to conduct a winning campaign. I am not the only candidate that has been the target of this kind of manipulation. I hope that in the future the Party will reject this interference and insist on an open primary allowing voters to choose the candidate who represents their values.

I challenged Bart Stupak because he was threatening to take down the healthcare bill. His amendment threatened access for women to get health insurance even with private funds. There is an aggressive movement across the country to pass laws to restrict women from making responsible healthcare choices to protect their health, and furthermore, to criminalize their actions. The same people who think government should stay out of their lives, are legislating government into the doctor's office. Individuals, families, and physicians are the ones who should be making the complicated and difficult decisions we all face regarding reproductive healthcare and life issues.

While I think Gary McDowell is a very nice person, I cannot support his anti-choice politics, and I cannot support a party that endorses candidates who vote to restrict women's legal rights and access to healthcare. It is time for Democrats to stop compromising on this issue. I am proud that my campaign has raised the dialogue on healthcare and cgoice, and I will continue my leadership role concerning these issues.

I want to thank all my supporters in the First District and across the nation who contributed their time, money, endorsements, and good wishes for my campaign. We were first in the race, raised more money than any other Democratic candidate to date, collected over 1,500 petition signatures, put together a professional campaign team and a path to victory. Without the interference of the Democratic leadership, we might just have won the election!

I'm stunned and disappointed. I always believe Stalanism should be fought. The Michigan Democratic Party is waving around some poll they took-- paid for by the slimebags at the DCCC, of course-- which "proves" Connie couldn't win. Of course, the question about her describes her as a "socialist." Remind me again what makes the Democratic Party insiders any better than the Republican Party insiders. Please send a message to the Democratic Party by helping defeat some of Debbie Wasserman Schultz's favorite conservatives, like Lori Edwards, John Barrow, Jane Harman, Blanche Lincoln and Katrina Swett.