On Monday afternoon, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) released a video ad on Twitter, boasting the support of Tim Suprise, founder of Arcadia Brewing Company. Without wasting a beat, her Republican challenger, combat veteran John James, responded with a video of his own, featuring none other than Tim Suprise.
“Senator Stabenow has really supported small business and as a small, craft beer owner that has mattered tremendously to us,” Suprise said in the Stabenow ad. He emphasized that small businesses “are the engines of economic growth, we employ as a percentage, more of the people than the large corporations.”
Suprise concluded, “it’s a real privilege when you have a leader that steps up, regardless of what side of the aisle they stand on, for the real important issues that matter in our state.”
"Senator Stabenow has really supported small business and as a small, craft beer owner that has mattered tremendously to us." – Tim Suprise, Arcadia Brewing Company Founder
Watch: pic.twitter.com/47mCAgy93J
— Debbie Stabenow (@stabenow) October 29, 2018
Make no mistake: Stabenow had a solid advertisement. John James stole her thunder, however, by responding with his own Tim Suprise ad.
“Tim! We love Tim. We ran into him just last week,” James tweeted. “Tim, a fmr. Reserve officer in the U.S. Army, said: ‘You need to look at the leadership, the experience, and I believe the kind of presence that we need in Washington, in John James for US Senate.'”
Indeed, of John James Suprise declared, “As a former reserve officer in the United States Army, I know that that kind of leadership is exactly what we need not only for our representative in the Senate from Michigan, but for the United States. John James.”
Tim! We love Tim. We ran into him just last week. Tim, a fmr. Reserve officer in the U.S. Army, said: "You need to look at the leadership, the experience, and I believe the kind of presence that we need in Washington, in John James for US Senate.” #LetsFlyMI #TeamJohnJames #MISen pic.twitter.com/PoOklqVsZa
— John James (@JohnJamesMI) October 29, 2018
While Suprise has praised both Debbie Stabenow and John James, it seems he has endorsed neither.
“We talked to him after he talked to Stabenow. He didn’t explicitly endorse us,” Tom Goodman, communications director for John James, told PJ Media on Monday. He emphasized the upcoming John James rally featuring vice president Mike Pence.
Elizabeth, John John, Hudson & I are honored to welcome @VP @Mike_Pence to Liz’s hometown, Grand Rapids!🇺🇸 #LetsFlyMI #MISen #TeamJohnJames pic.twitter.com/pfaIVGBXtT
— John James (@JohnJamesMI) October 29, 2018
Gabriel Suprise, the Arcadia founder’s son, told PJ Media, “I think Tim finds appealing aspects of both candidates for office, but I’m not sure he specifically endorsed one or the other.”
“I do know that he’s well-regarded on both sides of the aisle, and is keen to work with whomever gets elected to improve small business in Michigan,” the son added.
He retweeted both ads, first thanking Stabenow for giving Arcadia Brewing more exposure, and then retweeting the John James video with the hashtag “TeamJohnJames.” Gabriel Suprise confirmed to PJ Media that he supports James, but since he does not live in Michigan, his support means little.
https://twitter.com/gsuprise/status/1056984654455205889
This Twitter back-and-forth seems quite ballsy for John James. He responded to Stabenow’s tweet — meaning her liberal followers would be the most likely ones to see it. However, by responding to her tweet, James also make it most likely that people inspired by Tim Suprise’s support would see his video also supporting James.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.
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