By Christopher Klaver
CIO
Posted: November 5, 2013 9:57 AM

U.S. Rep. Kerry Bentivolio came into office on a message that he was nothing like the incumbent, but it appears David Trott is working to unseat him with the opposite message: I am exactly like the prior incumbent.

Most candidates at some point release lists of endorsements. And at some point they ask those endorsing them to attend an even or otherwise speak on their behalf.

Mr. Trott has run several such releases since announcing his candidacy, with lists of current and former elected officials backing his bid.

That he has lists of the who’s who of Oakland County politics is no surprise. That group attempted to head off Mr. Bentivolio’s (R-Milford) election in the first place with an unsuccessful write-in candidate in the primary after former U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter lost his ballot spot to a petition gather scandal.

But it appears one of Mr. Trott’s key strategies will be continually reminding voters that they have already elected people who are now supporting him.

Mr. Trott released another list of endorsements Monday, but, unlike the usual such lists, this was not new endorsements. Most of the 26 names on the list had been released previously. But all are current or former elected officials now backing his campaign.

Key among the list is Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who had backed Mr. Bentivolio after the 2012 primary only as a way to urge Republicans to coalesce around their standard-bearer, rather than sitting out or, even worse, supporting the Democrat.

Wayne County Commissioner Laura Cox is on the latest list. Mr. Trott was a big supporter of her husband, Mike, in his run for attorney general, and during his eight years in that post.

A number of names once heard around Lansing are on the list, like former Oakland County Clerk Bill Bullard, Canton Township Supervisor Phil LaJoy and Oakland County Commissioner Shelley Taub.

The effort draws a strong contrast to Mr. Bentivolio, who struggled to put together such a list two years ago and has likely seen that list dwindle since Mr. Trott entered the race.

The question remains, has Mr. Bentivolio been able to develop a list of national power brokers during his two years in office to offset the local powers backing Mr. Trott.