As I crisscrossed the 7th district over the last several weeks and months, there was one consistent message from everyone we spoke to: we need a change to turn Michigan's economy around. Yesterday, you made it happen.

By knocking those extra doors, making those extra calls, talking to just a few more voters before the polls closed, you brought change for this district, our state, and our country. You didn't just do it for me, or even in most cases for yourself. You did it to help the worker who has seen their job shipped overseas and wants to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else. You did it for your neighbor who worries about paying their medical bills if a loved one gets sick. And for the senior who deserves to live out their retirement with dignity and security.

On behalf of all of them and everyone else who is crying out for change, I offer you my most heartfelt thanks.

But you know our work is not ending, only beginning. We start from day one, right now, working overtime to turn our economy around and get people back to work. We must be focused, diligent, and united, but I know together we can fix what's broken in this country.

Thank you again for your commitment and sacrifices. You made it happen, now let's make it work.

Here's a clip from our Everywhere, Everyday, Every Job Counts tour, which will take us to all seven counties of the 7th district over the last five days of the election. Enjoy!

In case you missed it, the blog Washington Whispers has a post up today with information obtained in a GOP memo that predicts Tim Walberg will lose to Mark Schauer:

The document provided to Whispers is no gag: It comes from one of the key House GOP vote counters. The source called it a "death list." The tally shows several different ratings of 66 House Republicans in difficult races or open seats held by retiring Republicans. "Rating 1" finds 10 Republicans "likely gone." Those districts are New York 13, Alaska, Arizona 1, Virginia 11, New York 25, Illinois 11, Florida 24, Michigan 7, Nevada 3, and North Carolina 8.

We still expect this race to tighten between now and election day, but you can help put Mark over the top by donating and/or volunteering to help out with our get out the vote team.

Here's your Wednesday morning update from the campaign trail:

• Grand Rapids Press: President Bush brings fund-raising clout to Ada gathering. "President Bush is in town to raise money for Republican Congressional candidates. Two GOP incumbents are in tight races, and Republicans could lose their 9-6 advantage in the Michigan delegation."
• WKZO: We got the Power. "Auburn Hills-based United Solar Ovonic plans to build a new 220-million dollar manufacturing plant in the Fort Custer Industrial Park, a project that's slated to add 350 jobs over the next three years. State Senator Mark Schauer says the company had been considering a site in New York, but they had the ready-made construction site already serviced by utilities and the workforce."
• Battle Creek Enquirer: Solar-roofing company plans B.C. plant. "Let's just say I consider this a great victory for all of Calhoun County," said Jim Hettinger, president and chief executive officer of local economic development firm Battle Creek Unlimited. "Considering how many people have been displaced by plant closings, this is great news for our area's workforce."
• Battle Creek Enquirer Editorial: United Solar's decision requires support. "State and local officials deserve much credit for working with United Solar to convince the company to locate in Fort Custer. It is now dependent upon area officials and agencies to work cooperatively and ensure that United Solar's plans move forward smoothly."
• WOOD: United Solar Ovonic expands to Battle Creek. "You want your community's economy to be diversified. But you want it tied to jobs that are going to be in high demand," said Dehn.
• The Hill: ‘Just win, baby’ is the advice in Mich. races. “Tim Walberg is so entrenched in economic policies that have devastated Michigan,” Schauer said. “People are tired of the direction Republicans in Washington have taken this country. They associate Tim Walberg, rightly so, with those policies.”
• Blogging for Michigan: Schauer Creating Green Jobs, Walberg Named to the LCV "Dirty Dozen". "Today, the League of Conservation Voters added Tim to the 'Dirty Dozen', citing two 'dismal' years in Congress."

Here's your Friday morning update from the campaign trail:

• Jack Lessenberry Interview: Mark Schauer. "Today, Jack speaks with Democratic State Senator Mark Schauer. He is running against the Republican incumbent Tim Walberg in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. We had hoped to speak with both candidates however, Congressman Walberg declined to be interviewed for this program."
• Battle Creek Enquirer: Schauer Says He Can Reach Across The Aisle. "The Republicans throwing their names behind Schauer's campaign include retired Jackson Circuit Judge Charles Nelson; former Michigan State Housing Development Authority director Jim Logue; former U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, R-Battle Creek; Paul DeWeese, R-Williamston; Judith Scranton, R-Brighton; Susan Grimes Width, R-Howell; and Lenawee County Commissioner Dave Stimson, R-Tecumseh."
• Jackson Citizen Patriot: Internal poll gives Schauer a lead. "The poll, conducted by Myers Research & Strategic Services for Schauer's campaign, showed him leading incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg by 10 percentage points, 46 percent to 36 percent... Schauer also recently received endorsements from area Republicans including former U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz, former state Rep. Paul DeWeese and retired Jackson County Circuit Judge Charles Nelson."
• Walberg Watch: Walberg For Privatizing Social Security Before He Was Against It Even Though He's For It. "My point, of course, is to say that yes, Congressman Walberg, you dosupport privatizing Social Security. You didn't call it that, but Holly Klaft equated your plan with privatization, and we didn't hear any calls for a retraction."

Both campaigns have new ads out today:

Mark's can be found here:

Tim Walberg's can be found here:

It's an interesting contrast. Schauer is focusing on the economy and how the incumbent's policies and supporters are making things worse, whereas Walberg's ad focuses on... Michael Moore.

With the Congressman trailing by 10-points in our latest internal poll, it now appears that Tim Walberg has officially jumped the shark.

(You can read our official pushback on the content of Walberg's desperate attack ad here.)

Last month, Tim Walberg said John McCain's active Michigan campaign would help him beat Mark Schauer in the 7th district. Here he is from an article published in the Ann Arbor News on September 7, 2008:

"We'll help him and he'll help us, there's no doubt about it,'' said U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, referring to GOP presidential nominee John McCain.

[...]

Walberg said he hopes McCain's success in Michigan and Washtenaw County in the 2000 election, particularly among moderate Democrats and independents, can help offset the anticipated support countywide for his Democratic challenger, Mark Schauer.

Votes will be at a premium, as the battle for the Michigan's 7th Congressional District is believed to be among the most competitive and expensive House races in the country.

And here's the news today, from Politico:

John McCain is pulling out of Michigan, according to two Republicans, a stunning move a month away from Election Day that indicates the difficulty Republicans are having in finding blue states to put in play.

McCain will go off TV in Michigan, stop dropping mail there and send most of his staff to more competitive states, including Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida. Wisconsin went for Kerry in 2004, Ohio and Florida for Bush.

[...]

A McCain event planned for next week in Plymouth, Mich., has been canceled.

Sorry we haven't done one of these in a while, but there's a lot of news to share. Here's your Thursday morning update from the campaign trail:

• AP: Schwarz endorses Democrat in race. "Schwarz told The Associated Press in an interview that he decided to endorse Schauer over Republican Rep. Tim Walberg in the south-central Michigan congressional district because the anti-tax Club for Growth began running ads critical of Schauer's positions on taxes." [...] "That to me is the straw that broke the camel's back," Schwarz said. "I object to political dabblers who stand for nothing other than to create havoc and dabble in a congressional race where they truly have no interest."
• Battle Creek Enquirer: Schwarz endorses Schauer; Walberg. "Walberg said he was disappointed to hear Schwarz, a fellow Republican, would support Schauer." [...] “'I didn’t expect his endorsement because of the last race, but I’m really surprised,' Walberg said."
• The Hill's Blog Briefing Room: Former Rep. Schwarz Backs Schauer Against Onetime Foe. "Schwarz cited attacks on Schauer by the conservative Club for Growth as his motivation for endorsing the Democrat in the highly-competitive race. Schwarz, who was first elected after topping a large field in 2004's Republican primary, was targeted by Walberg and the Club for Growth during his 2006 reelection."
• Politico: Republican endorses Walberg's Dem challenger. "Former moderate GOP congressman Joe Schwarz is no fan of Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), who ousted him from office in a 2006 Republican primary. And now he's getting his revenge."
• DailyKos: MI-07: Former Rep. Schwarz (R) Endorses Schauer. "In 2006, MI-07 Republican Rep. Joe Schwarz was primaried out by Club for Growth-supported wingnut Tim Walberg. Walberg now faces a stiff challenge from Mark Schauer, and Schwarz is getting his revenge."
• Swing State Project: MI-07: Bombshell - GOP Ex-Rep. Schwarz Endorses Schauer. "Game-changer. Schwarz, a relatively moderate Republican, was defeated in the GOP primary in 2006 after the Club For Growth flooded the district with over $1 million in negative advertising. Earlier in the day, the Club announced that they'd be once again injecting themselves into this district by spending $175,000 on new attack ads against Democrat Mark Schauer."
• MyDD: Former GOP Rep Schwartz Endorses Would-Be Dem Successor. "Suffice it to say, then, that in a tight race, which this has always been destined to be since Schauer jumped in, the Schwartz endorsement could make a real difference in swinging independents and moderate Republicans to the Democratic cause. In other words, this is a big deal."
• Talking Points Memo: Former GOP Rep. Endorses Dem Candidate. "Former Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-MI), a moderate who lost re-election in his 2006 Republican primary to right-winger Tim Walberg, is now endorsing Democratic nominee Mark Schauer in the race this year against the freshman Rep. Walberg."
• Capitol Journal: Gamechanging endorsement: Schwarz backs Schauer. "It's a move that could potentially tip the scales in the knife-edged 7th Congressional District race."
• CQ Politics: Races for Michigan GOP Reps. Walberg, Knollenberg Now Rated Tossups. "Schwarz told CQ Politics the endorsement was not part of a 'quid pro quo' in retaliation for the Club for Growth’s involvement in his own primary loss in 2006, nor was it a personal attack on Walberg. 'I have no personal animus toward Congressman Walberg. To me this is an issue of principle. Club for Growth does not belong in this congressional race, and the way that they come into congressional races and the things that they do and say distort a race,' Schwarz said."
• LSJ: Union chief, Schauer talk jobs. "Jobs and the economy were on the minds of union workers Tuesday when they gathered to talk with AFL-CIO labor federation leader John Sweeney and congressional candidate Mark Schauer."
• AP: Walberg, Schauer clash at business breakfast. "It was dubbed a breakfast briefing. But a joint appearance outside Lansing Wednesday featuring Republican Rep. Tim Walberg and Democratic challenger Mark Schauer turned into a feisty debate."
• Jackson Citizen Patriot: Access center helps students shop for college. Schauer congratulated the Jackson County Community Foundation for starting the Legacy program, saying it was bold and is changing the culture of Jackson County. 'Education is the key to being successful,' he said to the crowd. 'We're working hard to support our schools.'"
• Battle Creek Enquirer: Mark Schaur: Focused on Michigan. "Where Tim Walberg and I depart is he supports drilling in the Great Lakes. I think that's a terrible idea," he said. "To me, as a member of Congress, I will support policies that provide for an Apollo kind of investment in clean and renewable energy technology in Michigan. We need real national leadership instead of more of the same."