Michigan voters have an easy choice in this year’s U.S. Senate race. They can go with the incumbent candidate who already has 30 years of experience dutifully and ethically representing them. Or they can go with the challenger who has just six years of experience in the Michigan House of Representatives and is content running on a platform of catchy conservative planks like low taxes and family values.

The 30-year incumbent is, of course, Benjamin Franklin-look-alike Sen. Carl Levin. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978, Levin is one of the country’s most powerful senators, and one who hasn’t been corrupted by the power like many of his colleagues. His clout has helped bring more federal money — 94 cents to every dollar of tax money, to be exact — back to Michigan, which desperately needs any help it can get. His support has been integral to bringing grant money to the University of Michigan, too.

Power isn’t the only reason to re-elect Levin, though. As chairman of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee, Levin is widely recognized as one of the country’s most knowledgeable minds on the war in Iraq — something either presidential candidate will need if elected. He was also one of the war’s earliest opponents and the mastermind behind many of our efforts to get out since, including the timetables that President George Bush first disregarded and has since come around to support (in principle).

Levin’s Republican challenger, state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk has given voters little reason to throw off their long-time senator. He has run a traditionally conservative campaign, promising to make the Bush tax cuts permanent, reinforce family values and oppose all spending earmarks. This narrow ideological rigidity was on display recently when Hoogendyk opposed the Wall Street bailout because, he believed, it wasn’t the government’s responsibility to get involved.

The best argument Hoogendyk has been able to level against Levin is that because he has served so long, he is a corrupt part of the Washington establishment. But there is no evidence to suggest that Levin has ever done anything but serve Michigan’s best interests.

Carl Levin has been a stand-up senator for the state of Michigan for 30 years. He deserves the opportunity to serve our state for six more. Voters would be crazy not to re-elect Democrat CARL LEVIN for United States Senator from Michigan.