Cain to campaign for Hoekstra in GR, other MI cities | News

LANSING, Mich. (AP/WZZM) -- Former presidential candidate Herman Cain is joining Republican U.S. Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra during stops in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti and Troy.

Hoekstra and Cain will make their Grand Rapids appearance from 9-10 a.m. Thursday at the Kent County Republican Party headquarters in the 700 Lake Michigan Dr. NW.

The Thursday campaign swing is intended to boost Hoekstra with tea partiers. Cain suspended his campaign Dec. 3 amid allegations of sexual misconduct, but remains popular with those voters.

Hoekstra currently leads seven other Republicans vying to take on Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow. But he may have a ways to go to catch his Democratic opponent.

An NBC News/Marist Poll released Wednesday showed 53% of 3,149 registered voters in Michigan backed Stabenow, compared with 32% for Hoekstra. Fifteen percent were undecided. Other candidates weren't included.

The telephone poll was conducted Sunday and Monday. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percentage points.