Posted on 05/29/2006 11:43:01 AM PDT by Torie
GOP Fears in a Bellwether Race
Staffers from the National Republican Congressional Committee are quietly telling GOP House members to prepare for a possible loss in the June 6 special election to fill the seat of Randy "Duke" Cunningham, now in prison for taking bribes. The Southern California district is heavily Republican, but some GOP insiders believe that Democrat Francine Busby will defeat former GOP Rep. Brian Bilbray and go on to win a full term in November. More alarming some worry that a Bilbray defeat could signal the GOP's loss of control of the House. The NRCC has already pumped $3.1 million into the race. "It is becoming more and more likely," says one GOP strategist, "that Bilbray will squeak out a victory." But another longtime Republican operative isn't so sure. "This is a district we should never lose," he says. "It's the stink of Cunningham, and the Bush problem."
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.com ...
You have missed the point. Cunningham was not a MODERATE - he was a conservative. The GOP is running a RINO (I should know - he used to be the rep from my district). If the GOP won't put up a candidate conservatives can vote for - they may deside to not vote .. meaning they will lose the 50th because THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DEFEND IT - ONLY WILLING TO APPEASE THE DEMOCRATS.
The GOP put him up? I thought he got the most votes in the primary; you can blame the conservatives who all decided to run against each other.
Oh .. I get it .. it's the conservatives who are to blame .. is that anything like, "it's all Bush's fault"?
No.
You may have missed the point. In the April 11th runoff there were 14 different Republicans to choose from. When you say the GOP won't "put up" a candidate YOU miss the point.
Brian Bilbray* Republican 20,952 15.27%
Eric Roach Republican 19,891 14.50%
Howard Kaloogian Republican 10,207 7.44%
Bill Morrow Republican 7,369 5.37%
Alan Uke Republican 5,477 3.99%
Richard Earnest Republican 2,957 2.16%
Bill Hauf Republican 2,207 1.59%
Scott Turner Republican 2,041 1.49%
Victor E. Ramirez 912 0.66%
Jeff Newsome Republican 574 0.42%
Scott Orren Republican 345 0.25%
Delecia Holt Republican 261 0.19%
Bill Boyer Republican 204 0.15%
Milton Gale Republican 58 0.04%
DL doesn't miss the point.
How does this fit into the equation?
(CA-50 Open) Roll Call - Minutemen Endorse Independent, Not Bilbray (May 23, 2006): In a blow to former Rep. Brian Bilbray (R), who is hoping his staunch opposition to illegal immigration will help him through the special election to replace disgraced ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham (R), the San Diego-area chapter of the Minutemen have endorsed conservative Independent candidate William Griffith.
I wonder if McCain can do anything but get lots of money since his Senate Immigration Bill is so disliked? Will this send to many mixed messages to have him there...tough decision. I saw where he's there on Wednedsay morning...know any more about the event?
Don't try to tag-team me .. if DL can't speak for himself .. oh well!
You don't have to agree with me .. and quite frankly I don't give a rip whether you do or not. I'm entitled to my opinion. The CA GOP is a joke! They're just too busy trying to appease the dems instead of supporting strong conservative candidates.
I (SHE)can definitely speak for my (HER) self; the point is, you said the GOP put up Bilbray; a BUNCH of people put THEMSELVES on the ballot; the conservatives split the vote, and Bilbray got the most votes...so be it.
Everybody and their mother ran as a Republican in the April 11th runoff.
Oh wait...Griffith didn't.
Now he runs.
Looks like a '08 type preview to me only the names won't be Busby and Griffith. It'll be Hillary and the basement-theatre guy.
I wonder why the minutemen feels the need to endorse an independent? If this race is close then he could be the spoiler.
Well .. since you're in ARIZONA - what do you care anyway.
And .. the GOP I know locally .. they were supporting Bilbray from the beginning. Maybe it wasn't public .. but they were supporting him nonetheless. You don't live here and you don't know what's going on.
Those of us who are conservatives DID NOT WANT BILBRAY.
On further thought, CA-26, CA-45, CO-05, FL-24, IN-03, NY-03, OH-12, VA-10, and VA-11 are also districts with a (very) faint glimmer of potential, but I'm sure you already realize it'd take a major shift for any of them to make the list. I think that pretty much scrapes the bottom of the barrel. We'd probably be talking 1894 scale cataclysm if any of them come into play, so long as the incumbent is in place (well, CO-05 is open).
In any case, toss in TN-04 and IN-07 on the Dem side and that covers every district I've considered listing that I'd say retains some remnant potential.
Who did you vote for in April?
Are you going to vote for the guy that the Minutemen endorsed?
I haven't decided yet.
Bill Morrow - because I know him and some of his staff personally.
Should Bilbray fall on June 6th, expect numerous posters to use Bilbray's defeat to justify their politicial beliefs, instead looking at the real reasons for defeat.
In fact, I suspect the White House wants Bilbray to lose, so Karl Rove can use the defeat to pound nervous Congresscritters into submission on immigration reform.
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