Political Notes: Pulling Power

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For Michigan Democrats, last week's special election in the 75th legislative district was a second chance compounded. It was an opportunity to undo the damage of another special election (TIME, June 2), in which the Republicans scored an upset, gained a one-vote majority in the state house of representatives (thus improving the prospects of the G.O.P. tax program), and demonstrated yet again the pulling power of Governor George Romney.

For the latest round, fought in a swing district just northeast of Detroit, the Democrats nominated Insurance Salesman Victor Steeh, 44, who had represented the area previously, and got every big Democratic name in the state to campaign for him. The stakes for the Republicans, and particularly Romney, were just as high. To support the relatively green G.O.P. candidate, Lawyer David Serotkin, 28, Romney again led a clutch of party personalities to the stump.

Fifteen minutes after the polls closed, Serotkin claimed victory. His plurality —1,252 out of 10,524 votes cast—confirmed his optimism. It might also give Romney something to small-talk about when he takes a July "vacation" in New Hampshire, which happens to have the country's first presidential primary next year.