Melissa Gilbert wants to represent Ingham County and the rest of Michigan's 8th congressional district in the House of Representatives.
But the former star of "Little House on the Prairie," hasn't been seen around Mid-Michigan much since announcing her candidacy.
It's been eight months since Melissa Gilbert announced her run for the eighth congressional district. Sightings have been scarce in Mid-Michigan since then.
But Thursday the former "Little House on the Prairie" actress spoke at a rally against child abuse.
"I promise you that I will fight for our children, I will fight for their future, and I promise you that I will fight for a world were all children are safe," Gilbert said at the Thursday rally.
While she spoke at the podium, she wasn't willing to talk to us. Her staffers rushed her away as soon as her speech was done. Something republican strategist Stu Sandler says won't help her campaign.
"I think there are important things to look at in terms of if you want this person representing you and your family in Congress," Sandler said.
He thinks republican incumbent Mike Bishop is the favorite in this red district and says Gilbert's name-recognition won't be enough to close the gap.
"I think Melissa Gilbert is relying on people seeing her history as a child actress but I don't think that washes, I think voters want someone who knows the issues," said Sandler. "I think they want to talk to someone about why they think they'll be the best person representing them in Congress."
Michigan's Democratic party tells Fox 47 News that they support Gilbert's run for office but that her campaign has handled everything internally and they've just spoken with them briefly.
And today her campaign decided to limit her comments to her speech on child abuse.
"I believe that politicians in Washington need to step up and do their jobs they need to do their jobs and protect our children," Gilbert said.
Mike Bishop is also running for his second term in Congress. The 8th district has been held by a republican since Mike Rogers defeated Dianne Byrum in the 2000 election.
