Connie Saltonstall (Stupak's challenger) appears to be a pragmatic compromiser.

[Kaleva]

She admits to supporting Stupak in the past and having worked on his campaign despite his views on abortion, being pro-gun (Stupak was endorsed by the NRA in 2008), his support for DOMA and DADT and his supporting Bush's position on stem cell research.

"The two rivals have a political history together. Saltonstall admitted she has voted for Stupak and worked as a volunteer on his campaign in previous elections. Stupak also endorsed her during her most recent campaign – an unsuccessful bid to represent the 105th district in the Michigan House of Representatives back in 2008."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/10/stupak-facing-primary-challenger-over-abortion-funding/?fbid=W-kVVu35CSR

But she says she had to do this.

""I've had to vote for him because he's a Democrat and not a Republican -- he was not as bad as the other side," she said."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/report-stupak-gets-a-primary-challenge-from-the-left.php

So, she votes for Stupak and works on his campaign and in return gets an endorsement from him all because she had to.

Mz. Saltonstall is pragmatic on health care reform:

Saltonstall told me that her "dream" health care bill would create a single-payer system in the U.S. "But I know how difficult that would be to get," she said, "so I would support and then work to get it fixed."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/report-stupak-gets-a-primary-challenge-from-the-left.php


Connie also doesn't appear to be a hard campaigner if the comment by a poster at FireDogLake can be believed:

"She first ran in a special election as an independent and won (extremely low voter turnout.) She did not do doors and sent out a mailing and had callers. She ran in the regular election as an independent and could not win. Again she did not do doors and lost by a large margin. She next ran as a democrat against a sitting rep and lost by a large majority."

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/03/10/stupak-does-get-a-primary-challenge/#comments

Connie Saltonstall also says that defeating Stupak in the primary may lead to a Republican victory in the district in the general election:

"Saltonstall, a former teacher and Charlevoix County commissioner who ran for the state House in 2008, said she realizes that if she wins, it could hurt the Democrats' chances of retaining the seat in what many consider a conservative district."

http://www.freep.com/article/20100310/NEWS05/3100337/1001/rss01

[The Magistrate]

1. Still, Sir, You Fight With What You Have, And With Who Steps Forward

[ClassWarrior]

2. Hmmm... is she only a stalking horse?

NGU.

[Warpy]

3. Stupak was willing to hold all of us hostage to his stupid religious dogma

and I honestly don't care how that man gets knocked out of office. He's just got to go.

[ClassWarrior]

4. But what if she's his tool to forestall another primary challenger?

I wouldn't put it past a Family scumbag to pull something like that...

NGU.

[Kaleva]

5. I highly doubt Saltonstall is a tool being used by the "Family".

[ClassWarrior]

13. Why?

NGU.

[Kber]

14. For starters, they don't let girls into their little clubhouse

[Kaleva]

18. Sec. of State Clinton is associated with the Fellowship

"Through all of her years in Washington, Clinton has been an active participant in conservative Bible study and prayer circles that are part of a secretive Capitol Hill group known as the Fellowship."

http://motherjones.com/politics/2007/09/hillarys-prayer-hillary-clintons-religion-and-politics

"The following politicians are among those who have publicly acknowledged attending prayer groups or are documented as having done so:<9>

* Secretary of State and former Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)
* Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.)
* Senator Tom Coburn (R-Ok.)
* Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.)
* Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.)
* Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
* Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Ok.)
* Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.)
* Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.)
* Representative Randy Forbes (R-Va.)
* Representative Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.)
* Representative Joe Pitts (R-Pa.)
* Representative Bart Stupak (D-Mich.)
* Representative Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.)
* Representative Frank Wolf (R-Va.)
* former Senator and Vice President Al Gore (D-Tn.)
* former Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.)
* former Senator Don Nickles (R-Ok.)
* former Senator Everett Dirksen (R-Il.)
* former Senator Jennings Randolph (D-W.V.)
* former Senator John Glenn (D-Ohio)
* former Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Ma.)
* former Representative Steve Largent (R-Ok.)
* former Representative Chip Pickering (R-Miss.)
* former Representative Tom Lantos (D-Ca.)
* Maine Governor and former Representative John Baldacci (D-Me.)
* South Carolina Governor and former Representative Mark Sanford (R-S.C.)
* former Ambassador and Representative Tony P. Hall (R-Ohio)
* former Ambassador and Representative Mark Siljander (R-Mich.)
* former Ambassador and Representative Andrew Young (D-Ga.)
* former Ambassador and Representative Richard "Dick" Swett (D-N.H.)
* former Attorney General Edwin Meese (R)
* former Attorney General and Senator John Ashcroft (R-Mo.)
* former Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury and Reagan Chief of Staff James A. Baker, III (R)"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fellowship_%28Christian_organization%29

[Kaleva]

6. I haven't been able to find anything about where Saltonstall stands on marriage equality

I've read a number of articles that report on her campaign for the 105th state house seat back in 2008 and the issue isn't mentioned.

[SoCalDem]

7. Stupak is NOT "new"..Shame on the dem organizers for not finding

a true alternative to him.. He's no better than a republican if he insists on throwing sand into the gears if every piece of legislation does not include his panty-sniffing crusade issues..

He's done this before, hasn't he?

This is crap that overtook the republican party when the "Moral Majority" were welcomed into the party..

These single-issue religious wackos do more harm than good.. The letter next to their name is meaningless, if you cannot count on them when you need them..

[Kaleva]

8. "How Progressive Is Saltonstall?"

"Saltonstall has not yet articulated a general political philosophy, much less particular policy positions. She has merely stated that she favors health care reform and that she is pro-choice. What are her positions on other issues, such as the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, civil liberties, climate change, transportation and marriage equality?

Before progressives pledge their support to Saltonstall, they should wait to understand her political position as a whole, not just in the light of the issue of the moment."

http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/tag/connie-saltonstall/

[The Magistrate]

9. The Devil Himself, Sir, Would Have My Vote Against Stupak

What he has done must be punished....

[Kaleva]

10. In the end though, it may be you and the rest of us being punished.

Making deals with the devil for a short term gain almost always backfire.

[The Magistrate]

11. One Brings A Long Spoon, Sir....

Stupak has crossed over into 'bill the family for the bullet' territory: it would not trouble me if he were replaced by a Republican.

"When you hate, hate thoroughly."

[Kber]

15. Agree Sir, but I'm not worried about Connie's positions

Is she more conservative or progressive than Bart? That's the central question and she should have her opinion white papers up on her website soon.

I know I hate Bart. I have the advantage of some insider knowledge, so I know I love Connie. However, I certainly don't expect blind support from anyone who doesn't fully understand her positions. Right now she's "better than the other guy". I am confident that once she starts sharing her positions widely (other than the pro-choice and pro-health care positions already articulated) that she will win people over on more than not being Bart.

I'm fully comfortable with a "wait and see" attitude because I believe people will like what they see.

kber

[ChicagoSuz219]

12. Stupak's gonna run for Governor. n/t

[blue_onyx]

16. No, he's not

He already said no to running for governor.

[ChicagoSuz219]

19. Really? I hadn't heard that... n/t

[Kber]

17. Regarding the poster from FDL about her campaigner - they are dead wrong

about not doing doors, etc,.

Just dead wrong.