If U.S. Rep Thaddeus McCotter has his way, there could be a rock 'n' roll president in the White House in 2013.
McCotter, R-Livonia, announced before a crowd of a few hundred people tonight that he is in the race for president of the United States-then brought out his guitar to play some bluesy rock music at the Freedom Festival at Whitmore Lake, sponsored by conservative talk radio station WAAM-AM (1600).
McCotter represents Michigan's 11th congressional district, which includes Canton, Garden City, Livonia, Milford, Novi, Northville, Plymouth, Redford, South Lyon, Westland and White Lake.
He said he decided to run for president because of the "situation in our country" and "in response to a lot of the events that happened in '08 and '09," referring to government bailouts and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a federal stimulus program.
He said he hopes to bring Michigan's problems to the forefront if he wins the republican nomination.
He cited lower wages and declining industry as issues that need to be addressed.
While tonight's event kicked off the campaign, the next stop tonight is back home, he said.
McCotter is the only current Michigander in the race for president. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, a Michigan native whose father George Romney was a former Michigan governor, also is in the race. McCotter joins an already crowded field of 45 vying for the Republican nod. They include:
- Former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich of Georgia.
- Businessman Hermain Cain of Georgia.
- U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, M.D., of Texas.
- Tim Pawlenty, former Minnesota governor.
- U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann, Minnesota.
- Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor and son of a former Michigan Gov. George Romney.
- Gary Johnson, former New Mexico governor.
- Rick Santorum, former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.
- Jon Huntsman, former U.S. ambassador to China.
