Posted on 04/24/2016 7:02:39 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
In a complicated political season, nobody has more complications to worry about than the half-dozen Republican senators seeking re-election in tight, swing-state contests.
Those senatorshailing from Illinois, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolinaare being buffeted by big forces largely out of their control as they try to hang onto their seats. Their fate will determine whether Republicans keep control of the Senate, where they currently have a 54-46 advantage.
The predicament of these GOP senators comes into clearer focus in the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, completed just last week, which helps crystallize three big complications they face:
The Trump factor.
These Senate candidates are trying to figure out what it would mean to run for re-election in a party whose presidential nominee, with the face and voice that would dominate national attention, would be Donald Trump.
The issue arises, of course because of the stratospheric levels of negative feelings toward Mr. Trump nationwide. In the new WSJ/NBC News poll, 65% of voters said they had negative feelings toward Mr. Trump. That includes 79% of Latinos and 75% of younger voters aged 18 through 34, two audiences where the GOP had been hoping to improve over its performance four years ago.
The question for GOP Senate candidates is whether such negative feelings could pull down other Republicans with spots down the ballot. Its a complicated question because Mr. Trump might at the same time draw out to the polls, to the benefit of Republicans, more white working-class voters, many of whom see him as something of a potential savior.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...
I imagine their trouble is really that they sold America down the river at every opportunity and now no one wants them any more, but if they want to blame Trump, I suppose they will.
Which ones are GOPe?
After the first Tuesday in November, 2016,because of the attitude the GOP has taken, the only members of either house of Congress remaining will be those that did not have to run for re-election.
The FIRST THING they can do is convince the GOPe to stop talking about schemes to STEAL THE NOMINATION from Trump, especially if he gets to 1237.
For if Trump walks, MILLIONS OF US walk with him, and that means DOWN-TICKET too, and we COULD CARE LESS what happens to those Senators and reps in tight races.
This is STRIKE THREE for the GOPe (after McCain and Romney). They gave us candidates that could not even beat a hate-filled race-baiter. Next time we don’t hold our noses...it is up to these candidates to SHAKE SOME SENSE into the party leaders and delegates, or it will be GAME OVER for the Republican Party and their careers.
They can survive by supporting Trump.
Note to GOP Senators: There’s a REASON Trump is popular. Think about it.
“For if Trump walks, MILLIONS OF US walk with him, and that means DOWN-TICKET too, and we COULD CARE LESS what happens to those Senators and reps in tight races.”
That’s exactly the attitude that gave the Democrats a filibuster proof majority in the Senate in 2008 and gave you Obamacare. How did that turn out?
They could jump onboard the Trump Train and ride to re-election, but they’d look foolish if they turned against him on votes afterward. The fact that he is wildly popular and has pulled more new and crossover voters to the R party is lost on them if they don’t see this instinctively.
How did that turn out? Exactly the same as the next four years after we took their filibuster-proof majority away from them.
No change.
The dilemma is they support Trump and lose their K- St. money or back Trump and depend on small contributions from the constituency. My guess is they stay bought.
“Thats exactly the attitude that gave the Democrats a filibuster proof majority in the Senate in 2008 and gave you Obamacare. How did that turn out?”
It turned out GREAT, at least for the GOPe. Obama protected their friends on Wall Street, they’re getting great trade deals, and they’re on the verge of a mass Amnesty that will once and for all END CONSERVATISM. Obamacare is more like a gnat to them - they mostly have decent private insurance, or can pay out of pocket, if need be. Can’t see any downside for them with that outcome.
This time we make their crap PAINFUL for them.
Maybe they should ask themselves whether they should go appear at a trump rally, a kasich rally, or a cruz rally
Senator Portman did a robo-call endorsing Kasich for the primary. That might sit well with the insiders (whoever they are) who handed Kasich the primary. It does not sit well with the voting fodder. Can he rehabilitate himself enough to get crossover and independent votes, in addition to working class Republicans on board? Questionable.
We gave Republicans a strong mandate in DC last election. How did that turn out?
Don't know I could vote for Hillary probably not , she is over the top corrupt and inept and besides she is the GOPe backup plan
But democrats over GOP candidates at every single other office?
Meh - let's roll
It also gave us a GOP House and Senate in 2014
How’s that working out?
Strike three? More like Strike 6. Both Bushes ended up being unmitigated disasters and Dole was a walking embarrassment both before and after he became a creepy old man doing erection pill commercials.
Without a filibuster proof senate, nothing can truly be done to overturn Obama laws passed. Sad but true. All this bitching about control of the senate doesn’t mean squat. Sure they can stop new damaging laws, but can’t up overturn old ones. That requires control of all three, the house senate and presidency...and you need 60 in the senate to overturn old laws. Or try the courts. But if Hillary gets in, that’ll be impossible.
And to do that the GOPe Party must be dismantled.
I hope you’re right. It would be delicious.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.