Michigan Senate candidate loses campaign manager

Detroit charter schools founder Clark Durant's (R) campaign has undergone a major shakeup, replacing its campaign manager.

The campaign had gotten off to a strong fundraising start as Durant tapped into the donor network that had supported his schools, but former Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) has maintained a commanding lead in primary polls. The two are hoping to challenge Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).

The shakeup is a bad sign for both Durant and Democrats, who had hoped he would force Hoekstra to spend more time and money on the primary rather than save resources for his run against Stabenow.

The new campaign manager is Andy Anuzis, a longtime Michigan GOP operative and the brother of Saul Anuzis, a Republican National Committeeman who helped woo Durant into the race. He replaces Dick Wadhams, who previously worked for then-Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) and ran the Colorado Republican Party.