Camp not running for Senate

In a blow to Republican chances of winning the 2014 Senate race in Michigan, U.S. Rep Dave Camp has decided not run for the seat being vacated by Sen. Carl Levin.

The Republican from Midland issued a statement sometime this morning on his campaign committee website:

"After much thought and careful consideration, I have decided not to run for the United States Senate. I will continue to put my full focus and effort on serving my constituents in mid- and northern-Michigan as their Representative and as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee."

MLive broke the story at about 10 a.m. using this curious language “in a statement issued Friday afternoon...”

Camp had Washington buzzing last month when he said he was considering a Senate run because he was expected to use his perch as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee to push through comprehensive tax reform. Just the prospect of Camp spending his time running for Senate caused some Washington political observers to declare that tax reform was dead.

Now, some political analysts may declare that the Michigan GOP’s chances of capturing the Levin seat are dead. The only Republican candidate is former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, whose Senate bid has received a fairly cool reception in some GOP circles.

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash may run for the seat but he hails from Land’s home turf of western Michigan.

Meanwhile, the Democrats have already coalesced around Rep. Gary Peters of West Bloomfield Township.

Here is Camp's full statement:

“Over the past few months, I have received a lot of encouragement to run for the United States Senate. I have greatly appreciated and am deeply humbled by those calls and conversations.  After much thought and careful consideration, I have decided not to run for the United States Senate.  I will continue to put my full focus and effort on serving my constituents in mid- and northern-Michigan as their Representative and as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.  That includes creating a stronger economy by making the tax code more effective and efficient; opening new markets for American goods services; and, critical oversight of ObamaCare and the IRS.”