Hoekstra's conservatism at issue in Michigan primary

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - After representing Michigan's most conservative congressional district for nearly two decades, Pete Hoekstra contends his Republican opponents "are totally off base" in trying to convince voters they're farther to the right.

Yet that was a familiar refrain during the Holland Republican's unsuccessful primary bid for governor in 2010, and he's hearing it again as the presumed GOP favorite in the race to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Charter school foundation executive Clark Durant of Grosse Pointe and former Kent County Judge Randy Hekman of Grand Rapids have criticized Hoekstra for voting to approve federal loans to troubled banks and raise the federal debt limit while in Congress.

Hoekstra has raised more money than his opponents and says he has a strong statewide campaign organization that should help him win.