Recording artists Kid Rock confirmed his intent to run for the U.S. Senate in 2018, setting the Republican Party up for another potential big win thanks to the musician’s existing popularity.
Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, has launched the website kidrockforsenate.com, and reportedly plans to make a run at Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow.
A career politician, Stabenow narrowly won her first of three Senate bids in 2000 by unseating incumbent Republican Spenser Abraham. Afterward, she faced lackluster opponents in 2006 and 2012, and has fallen into the ranks of “resist” and “obstruct” Democrats best known for slow-walking and voting against President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees.
She staunchly opposes the president’s agenda on everything from job creation to illegal immigration. But the far-left Stabenow appears to have a difficult re-election campaign in a Michigan area that has morphed into “Trump Country.” Kid Rock’s name recognition and center-right political position are likely to cause voters to migrate to his cause.
Star Power Matters
With a reality TV star in the White House, it’s tough to argue against the value of being a household name. It garners headlines and news coverage, and the average American is inclined to turn their head and listen.
President Trump took up almost all of the national political oxygen during the 2016 campaign, and Republican celebrities have historically fared well. President Ronald Reagan jumped from Hollywood into the California governorship and then into the White House with ease. He may have shattered the celebrity ceiling after emerging as one of the nation’s greatest presidents.
Arnold Schwarzenegger followed in Reagan’s Hollywood footsteps by holding the California governorship from 2003-2011. Jesse “The Body” Ventura jumped from pro wrestling and movies to defeat a prominent Democrat and Republican in a Minnesota governor’s race in 1999 as a “reform” candidate. Clint Eastwood, Sonny Bono and even Shirley Temple have also enjoyed political success as Republicans.
In terms of popularity that crosses race, gender, age and political lines, Kid Rock may be the ultimate candidate. The five-time Grammy winner sold more than 35 million albums that span, hip-hop, rock-rap, Southern revival rock and country music. His grassroots lyrics reach far beyond Hollywood movies or reality TV in way that appeals to a wide range of voters. He enjoys positive, everyday appeal that contrasts liberal elitism, and people will listen.
Kid Rock’s Winning Policies
As a 46-year-old father of two and reserve police officer, Kid Rock trends right-of-center in the political spectrum. Although Kid Rock initially endorsed Ben Carson, he’s since backed Trump and the America first agenda.
Considering Rock’s background, his politics are very understandable. Few places have suffered worse from globalist economic policies than Detroit. Even improving state unemployment rates are attributed to people leaving the area and workforce. Michigan residents want jobs, and Kid Rock’s show of support for the president will surely attract voters.
On social issues, Kid Rock enjoys a best of both world’s position.
“I am definitely a Republican on fiscal issues and the military, but I lean to the middle on social issues,” he once explained. “I am no fan of abortion, but it’s not up to a man to tell a woman what to do. As an ordained minister, I don’t look forward to marrying gay people, but I’m not opposed to it.”
Although the upstart politician has not been tasked with providing specific details, the broad strokes present a sharp contrast to Stabenow. The incumbent has voted almost exclusively along Democratic lines, backing the Obama-era policies that hamstrung the economy, caused job loss and a $20 trillion national debt. Kid Rock’s pro-life social agenda asserts a woman’s right to choose leaves very little firepower for a Stabenow to cultivate women voters through fear of losing power over their own bodies.
At the end of the day, Trump carried Michigan over heavily favored Hillary Clinton, and that stands as an indictment to Democrat policies and positions. As a Washington insider, Stabenow finds herself linked to failed Obama-era policies embracing an obstructionist far-left agenda against a moderate and beloved native son.
Republicans and traditional Democrats of all walks of life are likely to find the Kid a welcome alternative to The Swamp.
~ Liberty Planet