Posted on 02/13/2010 8:14:19 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
The winner will proceed to face a Democrat in the special election; since the special election and the primary will take place on the same day, it is possible that two different Republicans could win - the special-election winner would serve out the remainder of Murtha’s term, and the primary winner would run in the general election in November. Barley notes that this has happened in lower-ticket races in the past, and the Hoffman experience opens the door for any Republican who’s passed over for the special-election ticket to denounce a "backroom deal."
Sources close to the Russell campaign are hearing that Burns will be the pick. "Our guy never stopped running after 2008, and their guy has never run before," says one Russell consultant. "It looks like they’re going to nominate Tim Burns, and if they do, we’ll just turn this into New York 23. Are they dumb enough to dismiss the guy who got more against Murtha last year than anyone else had before?" This consultant contends that Russell should be well-positioned for both campaigns; he ended the 2008 campaign with 60,000 donors. While some of those donors undoubtedly gave only out of an eagerness to see Murtha defeated, this consultant feels confident that Russell has developed a loyal base of supporters.
This cycle, Russell has raised an astonishing $2,892,109; Burns has raised a more modest $174,489. Nonetheless, Pennsylvania Republicans say that Burns can self-finance if needed, and that could be a factor in the abbreviated campaign season between the party’s selection and the special election in May.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
There’s a real possibility that the Republican establishment may botch this election. They need to be stopped. Bill Russell is the obvious choice.
Paging Newt...
This was my fear. The practice of party elites choosing nominees in special elections MUST end immediately.
Bill Russell has already raised over $2 million. That would be an enormous boost in a special election. This could turn out like that special election in Hawaii back in 1986.
Possibly. For those that don’t know how that turned out, that was when Dem Congressman Cec Heftel (who died last week, btw) resigned a year early to make a losing run for the Dem nomination for Governor. Dem Neal Abercrombie won the all party special election by 1,000 votes over Republican Pat Saiki, but he lost the Dem nomination for the full term to future Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, but Hannemann lost to Saiki that November. Now, 24 years later, Hannemann and Abercrombie are facing each other again for the Dem nomination, this time for Governor.
Bill Russell is a great candidate with proven fund-raising ability. He forced Murtha to call in chits from the NRA for a last big radio time buy to put him over the finish line. I think Murtha would have won without the NRA ads anyway, but it would have been a lot closer.
The local Jackass party is trying to get his widow to run. That's how stupid they think the local voters are-- they'll just vote for the Murtha name because it means pork to them.
That all politics are local is not an unreasonable premise.
Unfortunately, for a lot of them, that’s precisely why they voted for Murtha all these years. I’m beginning to reach the point where “pork” should be outlawed by Constitutional Amendment, if at all viable. Crap like that is why we’re running beyond-obscene deficits.
Why else did they vote for the guy for the last 80 years or so?
I hate how the NRA helps rats who support anti-2A rat leaders over pro-2A Republicans.
A key difference between this and the NY race is Burns is not likely to be a liberal like Scuzzobama. (he could be a dud like Tedisco though)
Of course I agree this anointing stuff is lame.
This one could get fun if 1 or more of the appointed nominees loses the full term primary.
Murtha was actually pretty good on 2A issues. But that was about the only thing where he sided with conservatives.
NRA rates him good I guess. GOA gives him an “F”. I think their ratings are better.
http://gunowners.org/111hrat.htm
However, most tests in the real world require you to get at least 2 out of 3 questions right to earn a passing grade. After seeing the NRA drop money on an ad-buy to defend this bum, I decided not to renew my membership. It was like the GOP spending advertising money to help Lincoln Chaffee in his primary.
I'm going to look into joining GOA instead. Thank you!
Smart move imo.
I would never in million years join the NRA and risk my dues going to pay for ads for some democrat like Baron Hill or Murtha or Creigh Deeds in VA (when he ran for AG in 2005 they endorsed him). They are a little obsessed with helping as many dems are they can to seem bipartisan.
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