Nicholson’s PVS Chemicals is a major global producer of sulfuric acid for car batteries. It operates plants in Canada, Mexico and Thailand. Nicholson is the vice chair of auto seat manufacturer Douglas & Lomason Co. Nicholson did not survive the primary of his ’96 U.S. Senate run, despite having spent almost $4 million of his own money. “He literally tried to buy the race,” said Inside Michigan Politics editor William Ballenger. Nicholson had promised to reform welfare and Congress as well as to end corporate welfare. He described himself as pro-choice, though he opposed public funding of abortion and defended such state restrictions as parental-consent rules. The year Nicholson lost his expensive race, Michigan voters passed a casino gambling law. As co-chair of a ’96 Detroit casino task force, Nicholson said he wanted the city to recruit large casinos—to keep locals from leaving the state to gamble.