Editor’s note: Earlier this year, I promised to harness our collective outrage against the GOP establishment by searching out candidates to support – men and women who will uphold our first principles.  Unfortunately, we have been too busy dealing with capitulation after capitulation on the major legislative battles.  That is about to change.  Over the next few months, I will be seeking out conservative candidates for The Madison Project (my other daytime job) and bringing them to the Red State community.  Your suggestions are much appreciated. Together we can get this done.

As conservatives, we have been frustrated by the fact that there is such a dearth of intellectual firepower among our elected Republicans.  Very few Republicans have the ability to articulate conservatism from a position of strength.  Unfortunately, this shows in their voting record.  Someone who fails to articulate conservatism as a candidate is bound to vote along with GOP leadership as an elected member of Congress.  This is why we need more candidates like Clark Durant in the Senate.

Clark Durant has been articulating conservatism long before he decided to run for public office.  During the 1970s, Durant worked at Hillsdale College and helped start Imprimis, one of the best conservative publications.  In the ‘90s, he helped found a network of charter schools that have had a positive impact on education in inner city Detroit.  While many Republicans struggle with the issues of education, Durant will be able to clearly articulate the superiority of private enterprise over government control in the education system.

Durant is a comprehensive conservative who possesses the requisite knowledge of history, policy, and the Constitution to properly articulate conservative principles in this Democrat-leaning state.  His campaign has already excited Tea Partiers in Michigan.  He has raised $1.3 million in just four months against a better-known opponent.

Durant’s main opponent for the Republican nomination, scheduled for August 7, is former Congressman Peter Hoekstra.  While Hoekstra served with distinction as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, he has a terrible voting record on fiscal issues.  He voted for TARP, raising the debt ceiling, and every bailout under the sun.  At a time when we are trying to preclude the next highway trust fund bailout, we need not support the man who voted for the original bailout in 2008.

Undoubtedly, it is an uphill battle to win a Senate seat in Michigan.  But we certainly won’t gain any traction by running retreads that embody the very vices we rail against on a daily basis.  It’s time to make some bold “out-of-the-box” choices, which is why we’re going with Clark Durant in Michigan.  We need someone who will stand up to Big Labor in Michigan and Big Government in Washington.  Our guys need reinforcements – big time.  Clark Durant will join our small group of stars in the Senate.

Earlier this week, Senator Mike Lee endorsed Durant for Senate.  At the Madison Project, we are proud to announce our support for Clark Durant and our contribution to his campaign.  Please join us in nominating an unvarnished conservative to take on Debbie Stabenow in November.

Cross-posted from The Madison Project