The words "entrenched incumbent" mean nothing to Andrew "Rocky" Raczkowski.

Raczkowski, a Republican state representative from Farmington Hills, formally announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate last week, setting up a challenge to veteran Democratic incumbent Carl Levin. Levin, one of Michigan"s senators since 1979, is the state"s longest-serving member in Congress" upper chamber. Based on his seniority, he currently chairs the Armed Service Committee and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Raczkowski, 33, emphasized that Levin has been serving in the Senate for two-thirds of Raczkowski"s life.

"I can"t tell you one good thing he"s brought back for the citizens of Michigan," Raczkowski said last week. "If you haven"t done it in 24 years you won"t do it in another six."

Raczkowski said he was tired of older generations claiming to have the solutions to the problems America faces.

He promised to think "out of the box" on issues such as the economy, environment, education, health care and security issues.

He also criticized Levin for supporting Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) in his opposition to President Bush"s economic stimulus bill.

Levin spokeswoman Tara Andringa defended Levin"s record, saying, "the people of Michigan are aware of Senator Levin"s record of public service and he"ll be proud to run on that record."

Levin, 67, served as an assistant attorney general of Michigan and later as president of the Detroit City Council prior to joining the Senate.

Republicans had a difficult time fielding a candidate to challenge Levin. They approached U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Holland, Gov. John Engler"s former chief of staff Dan Pero and even Michael Skupin, a former cast member of the television show "Survivor." Each declined before Raczkowski agreed to take the plunge.

Most Democrats are not taking Raczkowski"s candidacy seriously, noting that his statewide name recognition is almost minuscule and that Levin has won list two races with wide margins.

Andringa said, however, the senator "expects a vigorous campaign against him."

With one-third of the Senate up for grabs, both parties are trying to win seats wherever they can. Following Sen. James Jeffords" defection from the GOP, Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the Senate, a majority they hope to increase and one that Republicans want to eliminate.

Dan Allen, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said the greater part of the NRSC efforts would be not be spent in Michigan, but rather in grabbing from the other party seats currently held by incumbents in Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota and Iowa. They also hope to retain the seat being vacated by Sen. Jesse Helms in North Carolina.

When asked why the NRSC is only "observing" the Michigan race as compared to races in other states where it is expending vast amount amounts of resources to get its desired candidates elected, Allen said in other states the GOP quickly settled on candidates who would not face competitive primaries and was thus able to quickly anoint a challenger. Raczkowski, however, faces a potential primary challenger in Mark Powell, a legislative aide in the state House and a former radio show host.

However, Allen said, "The Republican Party is strong in Michigan and if it runs a strong candidate we can defeat Carl Levin."

Raczkowski is an attorney and a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. He served as House majority floor leader in the 1999-2000 session.

Levin defeated his last challenger, Republican Ronna Romney, with 58 percent of the vote in 1996.