Kilpatrick challenger considering independent bid

Former state Rep. Mary Waters, the leading challenger to Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick in Tuesday’s Michigan Democratic primary, may run against Kilpatrick this fall if the incumbent wins the party’s nomination.

“If we could get on the ballot, it’s something that we would consider,” said Waters’s campaign manager Sam Riddle. He said that while it would be a “very uphill battle,” a bid this fall would not be out of the question.

{mosads}Waters, Kilpatrick and state Sen. Martha Scott are competing for the Democratic nomination.

An EPIC/MRA poll conducted for The Detroit News and WXYZ-TV from July 27-28 showed the incumbent Kilpatrick as vulnerable, garnering 33 percent of voters’ support, while Waters received 29 percent and Scott was at 24 percent. Kilpatrick’s son, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and his former top aide are charged with perjury, misconduct and obstruction of justice.

Waters and Scott are seen as splitting the “anti-Kilpatrick” vote but the Scott campaign is not entertaining an independent run.

“I have never heard the senator mention this possibility,” said Scott spokesman Michael Wells on the prospect of a fall bid. “She is also a Barack Obama delegate and I'm not sure what impact that would have on that situation.”

Kilpatrick spokesman Bill McConico could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

An independent candidate would have needed to submit petitions by July 17, said Kelly Chesney, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State’s office. Waters or Scott would likely have to run as a write-in candidate, unless they were able to earn a minor party’s nomination by Tuesday.

Riddle said Monday he was not optimistic that the Waters campaign, which is cash-strapped relative to Kilpatrick’s, would be able to wage a write-in campaign.

“I’m not sure if a court would allow something other than that,” Chesney said.

Riddle said Monday he was cautiously optimistic about Waters’s chances, though he said he expected to be outspent by hundreds of thousands of dollars in Kilpatrick’s get-out-the-vote efforts Tuesday.

He also conceded Kilpatrick is probably “favored” and that Kilpatrick would have to split certain votes with Scott in order for Waters to win.

Waters is hoping for the “ABC vote — Anyone But Carolyn,” Riddle said. “If we can garner 37-39 percent of the vote, we’ll win.”

Kilpatrick and Waters split endorsements from Detroit’s major newspapers last week. The Detroit Free Press endorsed Kilpatrick, while The Detroit News endorsed Waters.