Republican Leading Big in Stupakland

Bart Stupak, the Blue Dog Democrat whose courageous pro-life stand during the Obamacare debate culminated in a sellout of epic proportions, announced in April he's retiring from Congress when his current term expires. Based on the mood of his district, he made a wise choice:

Republican Dan Benishek's bid to take the U.S. House seat held by retiring Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, got a boost with a poll released today that shows him leading 54 percent to 31 percent against state Rep. Gary McDowell, D-Rudyard, in a two-way ballot. Fourteen percent of the 406 respondents were undecided.

House handicappers have suggested Michigan (and much of the Midwest) is ripe for substantial Republican gains in 2010, and this data seems to confirm those sentiments.