How the hell does ANYONE get thrust on a state?I don't know you tell me. Money and ads were pouring into this state for Dole six months before the primaries. By December of that year, it was a forgone conclusion that Mrs. Dole was going to be the candidate. Again, months before the primary. Local news offered polling based on who the voters would vote for between Bowles and Dole by January, again months before the primary.
At least Bowles had the decency to acknowledge those he ran against. I don't think Dole even mentioned her competition, much more qualified than she herself was, the entire time
I don't want Karl Rove, President Bush, the RNC, or any other national organization choosing well in advance of the primaries who I'm going to vote for or against in state races in the general election.
The FACT is no one WAS "thrust upon" the state of North CArolina. North CArolinians would not tolerate such a thing.
In the case of Liddy it was a foregone conclusion she would win her primary since she was a major national figure BEFORE the election. This was not a case of the evil RNC and the sinister Rove working some sort of Black Magic to elect her.
They didn't have to.
People early on recognized that she would win and supported her with help and money. There is not one thing strange or unusual about that. Nor was her opponent more qualified. Just because you don't like her doesn't mean she was not highly qualified, she obviously was and had been involved in National politics for decades. In fact, she was one of the MOST qualified candidates for the Senate who ran that year.
She is a polished speaker and easily moves among the people to get her message across. Plus she has an engaging personality and people like her.
Name recognition and her personality won for her not the malevolent moves of Rove.