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Will Tea Partiers Sink Mitch McConnell’s Kentucky Senate Reelection Bid?
thedailybeast.com ^ | 8/4/14 | Ben Jacobs

Posted on 08/04/2014 5:06:45 AM PDT by cotton1706

The Senate minority leader, long reviled among many on the right for what they see as kowtowing to Democrats, is in a tough race for his seat—and in trouble with the Tea Party.

If Alison Lundergan Grimes pulls off an upset victory over Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in November, she may have Tea Partiers to thank. But don’t expect conservative voters to rally to Grimes—they simply aren't getting behind McConnell.

Although the five-term Republican ended up winning a a tough primary challenge from businessman Matt Bevin handily, the race was one of the most vicious and ugly this cycle, with Bevin’s campaign badly damaged in a cockfighting scandal. And while some disaffected conservatives have backed McConnell in November, Bevin has still not endorsed him, and many of the Tea Party groups that supported the businessman are following suit. As a result, in a recent poll, nearly 20% of self-identified Republicans didn't support McConnell.

Scott Hofstra, spokesman for the United Kentucky Tea Party, said he isn’t backing McConnell and “taking the lesser of the two evils approach.” Many conservatives, Hofstra predicted, either will leave the box on the ballot for U.S. Senate empty or will vote for David Patterson, the libertarian candidate. The senator has alienated many Tea Partiers and has yet to reach out to bridge the gap, Hofstra said. The divide was opened further, he added, by McConnell’s open support for Thad Cochran in the Mississippi Senate runoff and McConnell’s association with pro-Cochran ads that many conservatives assailed as race-baiting. “If there were some people on the fence after what happened in Kentucky, the Mississippi incident really put them over the edge,” Hofstra said. Still, he noted that Tea Party dissatisfaction with McConnell wasn’t winning Grimes their votes. “I haven’t talked to anybody who would vote her.”

(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections; kentuckykickback; nomorerinos; rino
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1 posted on 08/04/2014 5:06:45 AM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706

Even though I don’t respect McConnell, I would vote for him. We need to GAIN Senate seats, not lose them because of a hissy-fit. We need the MAJORITY in the Senate. NOW!


2 posted on 08/04/2014 5:10:25 AM PDT by originalbuckeye (Moderation in temper is always a virtue; moderation in principle is always a vice. Paine)
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To: originalbuckeye

A majority to do what? Continue the big spending, big government, Crony Capitaism of the GOPe?


3 posted on 08/04/2014 5:12:46 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: cotton1706

Incorrect question. It should be- “Did Mitch McConnell doom his campaign by alienating his base?”


4 posted on 08/04/2014 5:13:17 AM PDT by Bogey78O (We had a good run. Coulda been great still.)
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To: cotton1706

Sounds like a reverse Sarvis Effect. Ask anyone in Virginia about a “libertarian” candidate, who just happened to be funded by Democrats, who managed to throw the 2013 Gubernatorial Race to Terry McAwful.

And it’s apparently happening again, Sarvis is running in the Senate race, Warner vs. Gillespie. . .


5 posted on 08/04/2014 5:16:00 AM PDT by Salgak (Peace through Superior Firepower. . . .)
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To: cotton1706

McConnell IS A DEMOCRAT, defends their tyranny
and attacks conservatives.

It is the Romney-McConnell way.

VOTE THEM OUT.


6 posted on 08/04/2014 5:17:28 AM PDT by Diogenesis (The EXEMPT Congress is complicit in the absence of impeachment)
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To: Bogey78O

7 posted on 08/04/2014 5:17:42 AM PDT by jimbo123
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To: cotton1706

Dear Fellow Conservatives in Kentucky,
If you like having Harry Reid as Senate Majority Leader, than by all means, make your point about Mitch McConnell being a wimpy RINO (no argument there) and either stay at home or vote for a third party candidate who has. no chance of winning.


8 posted on 08/04/2014 5:19:05 AM PDT by TruthShallSetYouFree (When using "he" or "him" to refer to Barack Obama, is it still okay to use the lower case "h"?)
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To: originalbuckeye

I would vote against McConnell.


9 posted on 08/04/2014 5:20:09 AM PDT by Crazieman (Are you naive enough to think VOTING will fix this entrenched system?)
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To: cotton1706

I think the TEA PARTY will just sit out this Kentucky election. Since the ENTRENCHED REPUBLICAN PARTY is at war with the TEA PARTY, two can play the same game. I think the TEA PARTY has realized that there is no difference in electing a (DEMOCRAT LITE) republican or a democrat. Maybe it’ll teach these PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICANS that we are very, very tired of them, and we want CONSERVATIVES on the ballot, or we won’t play.


10 posted on 08/04/2014 5:20:41 AM PDT by gingerbread
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To: originalbuckeye

If you consider his statements and actions IN the Senate something we NEED, then go ahead. It looks as though the Akron water problem has been affecting the entire Buckeye Nation, No disrespect to Buckeyes who don’t brush their teeth with tap water. How can you honestly choose to have someone REPRESENT you when you do not respect said REPRESENTATIVE.

It is way past the time to cut the chord.


11 posted on 08/04/2014 5:22:12 AM PDT by mazda77 (http://www.rymanshoaf.com)
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To: originalbuckeye
You are right, but what is right on this site is hard right only. Losing with purity would be a good motto.

As with Mississippi, there will be few Kentucky voters among the most vociferous posters. My prediction is for a McConnell win and a new Senate Majority Leader. One of these days I expect to be banned here, but I do enjoy being provocative and hope that will alleviate some knee jerk group think.

12 posted on 08/04/2014 5:25:32 AM PDT by billhilly (Its OK, the left hated Bush.)
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To: originalbuckeye

NO WE DONT. A majority is meaningless if the right policy is not implemented. McConnell needs to lose.


13 posted on 08/04/2014 5:26:08 AM PDT by 4rcane
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To: originalbuckeye

Electing someone with Republican in the name but votes for liberal policies is not winning the seat.

What purposes is there in winning battles but losing the war?


14 posted on 08/04/2014 5:32:44 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer.)
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To: billhilly
My prediction is for a McConnell win and a new Senate Majority Leader.

By new Senate Majority leader you mean they will replace McConnell? You have a prediction as to who could replace him? I see McConnell as staying on *if* he wins reelection.

15 posted on 08/04/2014 5:33:42 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ((If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there)
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To: originalbuckeye

What are we thinking that razor-thin majority would accomplish?


16 posted on 08/04/2014 5:39:42 AM PDT by ScottinVA (If it doesn't include border security, it isn't "reform." It's called "amnesty.")
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To: Wolfie
A majority to do what?

Let's start with getting rid of that nasty little man Harry Reid as majority leader.

17 posted on 08/04/2014 5:43:18 AM PDT by ErnBatavia (It ain't a "hashtag"....it's a damn pound sign, number sign, or octothorpe. ###)
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To: billhilly
My prediction is for a McConnell win and a new Senate Majority Leader.

If McConnell wins and the Republicans take control of the Senate then he will be Senate Majority Leader. No doubt about that at all.

18 posted on 08/04/2014 5:44:38 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: ScottinVA
What are we thinking that razor-thin majority would accomplish?

Nothing.

19 posted on 08/04/2014 5:45:52 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: originalbuckeye

A GOPe controlled Senate with Juan McCain, Mitch McConnell, Linda Graham, Susan Collins, John Cornyn and the pro-amnesty U.S. Chamber of Commerce running the show is not going to make the changes in Washington that America needs. Dem-lite.


20 posted on 08/04/2014 5:47:55 AM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (I don't want to feel "safe." I want to feel FREE!)
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