ELK RAPIDS, MI (AP)-- Republican Pete Hoekstra acknowledges he's behind in his quest to unseat two-term Democratic U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. But he says the gap will narrow as voters focus more closely on the race.
Hoekstra discussed the campaign in an Associated Press interview this week after touring a factory in Elk Rapids.
He says the contest hasn't drawn much public attention and says he hopes to shake things up when he begins airing TV ads, although he hasn't decided when that will be.
The ex-congressman is running Web ads that describe Stabenow as "the worst senator Michigan's ever had." He says it's a fair criticism and that Stabenow is to blame for supporting Obama administration economic policies.
A Stabenow spokesman says Hoekstra's attacks are becoming more "outlandish" as his poll numbers fall.
