“What we would get in that case is another RINO like Cochran, except younger, and he would be much harder to defeat than a newbie Democrat like Travis Childers.”
Some thoughts:
1) Six years is a long time. Whoever “wins” the seat has a six year term. Even a newbie Democrat can build a power base in six year. Look at Hagan in NC, she’s been a loyal puppet of Chuck Schumer and Obama yet she turned out to be much stronger than anyone though in the campaign and may win reelection. Earlier this year this “newbie” Democrat seat was expected to be a sure thing for the GOP.
2) The electoral map arithmetic in 2016 will be negative for Republicans. The GOP will be defending more vulnerable or close seats than the Dems. None of the seats capture by the GOP in 2014 will have to be defended in 2016. If Hillary or Warren is the Dem nominee you can be sure the Democrat ground game will be pulling every homeless person and illegal they can find into the polls as well as voting the dead. The shift of Cochran’s seat and/or McConnell’s seat to the Democrats in 2014 would be payback for treachery but could very well make a Harry Reid return to the Majority Leader seat in 2016 a reality.
3) Politics is a hardball sport both inside the party and between parties. Our two party system is corrupt and it will not reform itself. I’ve learned over decades of voting in most races true conservatives are usually given the choice of the lesser of two evils, not a candidate one can enthusiastically support.
4) Given #2 & #3 is the cause of liberty better served by sending a message to the GOPe or keeping the seat in the GOP camp? Whichever choice conservative voters make it is once again the lesser of two evils from the individual’s perspective.
One has to consider the Barbour machine in Mississippi. If it is really that fearsome, then I wouldn't worry about a Democrat entrenching himself over the next 6 years.
Either Barbour is a paper tiger or he's not. So far, the way he stopped the McDaniel court challenges at every level in Mississippi, he ought to be able to stifle any attempt at a Childers empire building attempt.
-PJ