Politicians around the country said the race between Republican Joe Fitzsimmons and incumbent Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) for one of the state's 16 U.S. House seats is one of the hottest in the nation.
"Fitzsimmons/Rivers has shown up to be one of the best races in the country," said Michigan Gov. John Engler.
"Clearly, Fitzsimmons is in a straight up-and-down race with Lynn Rivers," said Haley Barbour, chairman of the Republican National Committee.
The Republican Contender
Joe Fitzsimmons considers himself a bridge.
The Republican running for the U.S. House seat in Michigan's 13th District said he believes he can serve as a bridge between his party and Democrats.
"I come from a bipartisan world - the business world," Fitzsimmons said. He said that background has enabled him to see an issue from different sides and then work to find a middle ground on that issue.
His experience in the business world - as president of the Ann Arbor-based company University Microfilms International- has also made him "economically conservative," Fitzsimmons said.
He said his business expertise makes him more knowledgeable about budgeting and other economic issues, including how to spend sensibly.
Fitzsimmons said that to get the economy in top shape, taxes must be cut and government spending must be cut back.
"Even at full employment, our tax system is incapable of generating enough revenues to cover our expenditures," Fitzsimmons said.
Fitzsimmons said government must provide incentives for Americans to save, invest and produce. "That requires lower tax rates," he said
He said a variety of tax cuts will be necessary to boost the economy. Specifically, Fitzsimmons supports the 15-percent across-the-board tax cut proposed by Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole. Fitzsimmons said he also would like to see a $500-per-child tax cut enacted, as well as a $5,000 tax deduction for adopting a child. He also wants to cut the capital gains tax by 50 percent.
"That's not for the rich," he said. "It frees up money to invest in the economy. That saves money for people. We've got to lower taxes on families."
Lowering taxes will jumpstart the economy, Fitzsimmons said. He said that boost, coupled with expenditure control and a balanced budget, will eventually allow for paying off the national debt.
"We can't just spend all the money that comes in," Ftizsimmons said. "We must spend with intelligence."
His children, grandchildren and America's youth are his main sources of motivation for running, Fitzsimmons said. "I'm in it to fight for their future," he said. "They don't have it today."
He said that in addition to improving the economy, he can help the youth by fighting for high-quality, low-cost education.
Because of his devotion to the younger generation, his commitment to student loans is very strong, Fitzsimmons said. He said he would support "no student loan cuts on any basis."
"It's the most important thing to do," he said. "The kids are our future."
He said that not only will he make sure loans aren't cut, he will work to increase them.
"I'll fight like crazy to increase student loans," he said. "I'll also try to make them more effective by making them available at a lower cost."
Fitzsimmons said he has a lot of ideas. He said he has a history of community activism and speaking out on the issues, and he's not afraid to cross party lines.
Unlike many Republicans, Fitzsimmons is pro-choice.
"My bottom line is I support a woman's right to choose," he said. "It's my position and it's been that way from the beginning."