Attorney General Mike Cox's Endorsement

Dear Republican Friend,

Like you, I have spent most of the past week or so thinking about the 2006 elections. At the national level, we clearly took a beating. People's perceptions about the progress of the war in Iraq, concerns about federal spending, the Foley and Abramoff scandals all took a toll. These justifiable concerns spilled over into Michigan and were further fueled by voters' worries about the Michigan economy and a billionaire's unprecedented spending campaign against the Republicans in the State Senate and State House. Despite all our efforts, in the end, Governor Granholm and Senator Stabenow kept their seats and the State House switched from Republican to Democrat control.

A very good man has come forward to challenge our State Party Chair Saul Anuzis, arguing that we need a change in that office. Over the past week, I have taken some time to think about the election results and the challenge to Saul Anuzis. I have also talked to many of you for your thoughts and opinions. I also talked to fellow Republican Attorneys General in other states - many who, by the way, lost their! seats o r had extremely close elections - to find out what happened in their states and across the Nation. After much discussion and thought, I believe it would be a mistake to change our Party Chair. In fact, I think that Saul did a very good job. You may ask, why? Well, let's look at the results. Let's look at the statewide offices first.

Dick DeVos and Mike Bouchard were excellent candidates. But they ran against two very experienced, successful, and popular incumbents who successfully tied the problems of Washington to Dick and Mike.On the other hand, Terri Lynn Land and I won with very big margins. I know the fact that Terri and I were strong candidates with records of achievement to put before the voters was a big part of our success.Yet, I cannot ignore the fact that in many other states, incumbent Republican governors, secretariesof state, and attorneys general lost or barely squeaked by.At the end of the day, candidates have to win or lose races - that is what Terri and I did - but our State Party did help us fend off the Democrat tsunami that hurt or lowered the vote count of Republican governors, secretaries of state, and attorneys general elsewhere. And for that, Saul mustget some credit.

Some want to argue that the State Party was responsible for losing the State House. But if the State Party is to blame for losing the State House, how did we keep control of the State Senate? The truth is that the State Party made a very strong effort to help both the House and Senate Republicans fend off the unexpected and unprecedented millions that were spent against our candidates. The fact that the Senate Republicans held on to the Senate is a tribute to the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema and the Senate Republican Caucus - with an assist from State Party.

And, of course, it is imp ortant that we did not lose a single seat in the United States Congress while our neighbors in Ohio and Indiana lost multiple seats.

Two years ago, I did not initially support Saul Anuzis for Party Chair. Yet I have to admit that from Day One of his chairmanship, Saul has been a tireless worker for our Party and has instituted some very good changes to our Party. We will all need to make more changes to win the Presidency and beat Senator Levin in 2008. But we also need some longer term stability in the Chair in order to make those changes. One change that would be an absolute mistake is electing someone new. That is why I wholeheartedly and proudly endorse Saul...and hope you do too!

Sincerely,

Mike Cox

Attorney General

State of Michigan