One state Supreme Court decision is the only thing standing in the way of a constitutional collective bargaining guarantee being officially tossed off the November ballot. You hear that giant swirling sound?

For all the noise Tea Party activists are making within the Republican Party these days, you'd think this hodge-podge collection of every spectrum of conservatism imaginable would be kicking butt at the ballot box.

This November we're getting potentially six constitutional amendments and one referendum because a few deep-pocketed entities see money to be made or, in the case of organized labor, higher membership numbers to be gotten.

Republicans have a 50/50 shot at claiming the long-sought south Lansing, rural Ingham County seat in the 67th. The numbers are stacked against them in the 69th, but they have a moderate candidate there. The Democratic base in the 68th is 73 percent, making a GOP victory there beyond slim.

But all four Republicans on the Aug. 7 ballot have made such head-scratching decisions, it seems this campaign has been more an exercise in how far the human nose can stretch into the Tea Party’s rear end than mounting a credible challenge to Stabenow.

Hetrick, 38, of Brighton, is a Lansing Grand River assembly plant employee who had worked at the Saturn plant in Spring Hill, Tenn. A Michigander since 2000, Hetrick says he was moved to run because of Congress' inability to get a handle on the country’s exploding debt crisis.

Early mornings, nights, weekends, I wrote candidate profiles and analyzed all 110 state House races taking place in the August primary and November general election. Not all 110 seats have competitive primaries. In fact, about only 40 do.

So when the local Republican Party poobahs came together for a special convention to pick a replacement for Calley, it came as little surprise when Trebesh couldn´\'t round up the necessary votes to win the nomination. He ended up dropping out, giving the race to Judy Emmons, who was since elected to the seat.

Among the Lansing types, Cochran is viewed as the frontrunner. The 67th House District is one of only two or three competitive open seats in the state this year, meaning Democrats must retain the district held by term-limited Rep. Barb Byrum to keep alive any slim hopes they have of regaining a majority.

Former Lansing Fire Chief Tom Cochran and former East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh both received the endorsement of the UAW CAP Council on Monday, securing their spots as the frontrunners in their respective state House races.