Every GOP candidate in 2018 will be defined as being part of the Roy Moore party. I have my doubts, though you may be correct that Democrats will try.
The thing is, all politics is local, as they say. A Republican House member who held the seat for years will not suddenly be seen as a sexual predator by his district. In the Senate where the whole state votes, Democrats have to defend 25 out of 33 seats.
Of the eight Republican Senate seats, we have the following:
- Mississippi, Roger Wicker. He won with 57% of the vote in 2012. Sexual predator?
- Texas, Ted Cruz. He won with 57% of the vote in 2012. Sexual predator?
- Nevada, Dean Heller. He won with 46% of the vote in 2012. He may be vulnerable, but not as a sexual predator.
- Utah, Orrin Hatch. He won with 64% of the vote in 2012. Sexual predator? Even Mitt Romney?
- Wyoming, John Barrasso. He won with 76% of the vote in 2012? Will he bleed 27 points by being tied to Moore?
- Nebraska, Deb Fischer. She won with 58% of the vote in 2012. Will Roy Moore taint the only woman Republican incumbent?
- Tennessee, open. Retiring Bob Corker won with 65% of the vote in 2012. Does leading hopeful Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) have the woman protection, too?
- Arizona, open. Retiring Jeff Flake won with 49% of the vote in 2012, so the seat is vulnerable. Again, do hopefuls Martha McSally (AZ-2) or Kelli Ward have the woman shield?
-PJ