GOP, eyeing House losses, pulls out of key races, including Bachmann's race

AP (Via West Central Tribune) ^ | 10/23/08 | AP

[mn-bush-man]

GOP, eyeing House losses, pulls out of key races, including Bachmann's race

West Central Tribune
Published Thursday, October 23, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) - National Republicans have yanked TV advertising for Minnesota GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's re-election bid after she suggested Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may have "anti-American" views and urged an investigation of unpatriotic lawmakers.

Bachmann is one of four at-risk Republican incumbents left to fend for themselves by a cash-strapped House campaign arm in the crucial final days of the campaign amid a tough political environment for the GOP. The National Republican Campaign Committee has also canceled planned TV ads to help GOP Reps. Marilyn Musgrave in Colorado, Tom Feeney in Florida and Joe Knollenberg in Michigan, spokeswoman Karen Hanretty confirmed.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.
RELATED CONTENT
	Article comments (1)

Musgrave, Feeney and Knollenberg are extremely vulnerable and Democrats - who are eyeing double-digit gains in their House majority - have been targeting them heavily. Bachmann, whose district is solidly conservative, has only recently emerged as a prime target after her controversial remarks on MSNBC's "Hardball," which sparked a flood of campaign contributions to her Democratic opponent and have reshaped the race.

Democrats' House campaign group is dumping $1 million on TV ads in the district in hopes of helping Bachmann's challenger, Elwyn Tinklenberg, unseat her.

In a statement, Carrie James, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Bachmann, "crossed the line by launching negative and divisive personal attacks."

Bachmann told the St. Cloud Times Wednesday that she regretted using the term "anti-American" about Obama, saying her appearance on "Hardball" was "a big mistake."

Earlier, she told the St. Cloud Rotary Club that she wished she could take back the statement, and she denied that she had said Obama was anti-American or suggested an investigation of members of Congress.

But during her "Hardball" appearance on Friday, Bachmann said of Obama: "I'm very concerned that he may have anti-American views."

Of lawmakers, she said: "I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out, are they pro-America or anti-America?"

Defending her TV comments Wednesday at the Rotary Club, Bachmann said that Obama "loves his country, just as everyone in this room does."

However, she reiterated her worries about him. "I'm very concerned about Barack Obama's views. I don't believe that socialism is a good thing for America," Bachmann said.

Republicans played down the decision to abandon Bachmann, noting that she still has more than $1 million to get her through until Election Day.

The GOP's House campaign committee - far behind its Democratic counterpart in fundraising - had already pared its advertising substantially in competitive races, scaling back planned buys in the districts of Rep. Jon Porter of Nevada and Rep. Bill Sali of Idaho.

The GOP also previously reduced ads in central New Mexico and in Minnesota's 3rd District, which is being vacated by Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad. Ads were also reduced in districts in Florida, Kansas, Louisiana and Texas that are home to vulnerable Democrats.

[mn-bush-man]

It's an AP story, but a good example of what I get to read in my local daily rag. Hope Bachman can hang in there -- she is a great lady!

[GnuHere]

Saw her on Fox - too bad she’s being punished for speaking the non-PC truth.

[midwyf]

I think she spoke the truth. Too bad she is getting knocked for it.

[capydick]

I cant stop thinking about the great opportunity the Republican party had in shaping the future of this country in the late 90's, early 00's and they absolutely blew it.

Now - when somebody like Bachman comes around speaking the truth about our politicians and media - the Pubbie leadership curls up into the fetal position and bunkers down until the election is over.

[ImpBill]

The GOP is reaping what they have sewn. And yes it is a shame good conservatives will feel the heat as well. But the "party", gone astray from its core principles, is going to pay. And it won't be too good for those of us who placed our faith in them for so long.

Should Obama and his ilk gain control, I believe they will also pay the price down the line. Perhaps it is a good thing and perhaps, just perhaps, at the end of the tunnel "we the people" will have our political process back where it belongs ... to us and not political parties!

[reasonisfaith]

I gave money to Bachmann because she brought attention to the problem of anti-Americans in Congress.

[RoadKingSE]

Bachmann, whose district is solidly conservative, has only recently emerged as a prime target after her controversial remarks

Too late to nut up now GOP. Instead of throwing Bachmann under the bus with Obama's posse the Party should be pushing the Michelle Bachmanns of Congress to the front of the line. Enjoy your days in purgatory Boehner. Hope you get some great tee times. sheesh

[Camel Joe]

This is the face of the new Republican Party or Progressive Lite as I like to call it. Abandonment of Conservative principles will get you nothing but loss after loss. The GOP should have borrowed money if they had to to nail down that seat, simply pathetic.

[napscoordinator]

Saw her on Fox - too bad she’s being punished for speaking the non-PC truth.

Why is she making it worse. She is apologizing all over town. For what? I think this makes her look so weak. She should have stood her ground and said “I stand by my statements.” She is in a very conservative district and they would back her. If she was in a liberal district than I could see a little back tracking but what she is doing is insane.

[Camel Joe]

We are also put at risk of a dictatorship. World crisis, sweeping powers assumed by a rouge one party Gub’ment, civil liberties cast aside “to deal with “ the crisis. At first it will seem like the wrong thing to do... Then will come the camps, you know, to get our minds right with the change. Who will be the new Kappos? That nasty little bunch of socialists from ACORN? Perhaps those nice young men who Obama inspired to be the next policeman?

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

“Pansie” leadership from the gop.This lady is a hell of alot tougher than the gop leadership.What say you?girls

[screaminsunshine]

Rush said we are going to have a new political party next years. This is the LAST time I vote Republican.

[from occupied ga]

I believe they will also pay the price down the line.

Not for one minute will they pay the price. They will consolidate their power and make the soviet union under Stalin look like a walk in the park. If you ever wanted to experience Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe now you'll be able to do it without ever leaving your home.

[gunnedah]

It is a sad day indeed when this lady is punished for the truth. I would suggest Americans batten down their hatches after election day you will see turmoil like you have never seen if I am right.America is in the cross hairs and vulnerable and under the Democrats you may see Martial Law and a dictator installed. Enjoy yourself it is later than you think.

[Cedric]

Typically, this article pieces together many unrelated items.

I saw Bachmann on BOR last night; she did not apologize.

If she'll win handily anyway why not pull finds from her race and put the dough to better use elsewhere?

[GOPsterinMA]

Tom Feeney in FL? That’s shocking!

[Common Tator]

In the 5th district of Ohio, which is a normally Republican district, Democrat Governor Ted Strickland did very well in 2006 and carried the district. However the popular Republican incumbent for the house seat won by a narrow margin. It was a much smaller margin than ever before.

The Republican Congressman passed away the next year and in late 2007 there was a special election. There was a hard fought primary for the Republican nomination. With a lot of attack ads on the eventual Republican nominee.

For the special election the Democrats poured tons of money into the Toledo TV market feeling they had an easy win. They used the same attacks the Republican opponent for the nomination had used against the primary winner. Republicans nationaly spent little and the money raised locally was indeed a tiny fraction of the money spent by the DNC on both positive ads for their candidate and attack ads on the Republican nominee.

The Democrats were shocked to find that the Republican won an easy victory. They had tried to tie the Republican Candidate Latta to the Governor TAFT scandal that was credited with Strickland wining the district in 2006. But it did not work. The voters did not buy it.

If this is a heavily Conservative District the RNC may very well think that she does not need the money and can use it in other much closer districts. And the fact that Democrats are willing to spend millions on TV does not mean that will win an election for them.

I believe that heavy TV advertising for a candidate is very counter productive. Especially when the advertisements trash the opponent. The undecided voters are swing voters and they tend to vote for the nice guy they feel they can trust that tells them what he will do for them. And TV ad after TV ad for a candidate just turns people off. A proper ad schedule is a bell curve. less than the proper amount doesn't do much and more than the proper amount hurts the candidate. When Democrats are running way to many ads that irritate viewers it is better to run no ads. Swing voter will see the name that ticked them off with tons of TV ads and vote for the other name... even if they have never heard of him.

They don't like a candidate that trashes his opponent. The more ads they run trashing the Republican the fewer votes Democrats get.

Ad agencies tend to do ads that please the clients and few have any expertise in doing political ads. So they talk to the candidate and do what the candidate wants. Most Republican and Democratic candidates have never learned the following:

If the arguments and attacks that persuade Liberals persuaded Independent Swing Voters, then all Independent Swing Voters would be Liberals!

[polymuser]

.

Trust AP articles as far as you can spit them.

.

[From The Deer Stand]

I gave money to Bachmann because she brought attention to the problem of anti-Americans in Congress.

Great! If anyone else wants to help this great promoter of Conservatism you can do so on her web site:

Michele Bachmann

[TexasRedeye]

...a cash-strapped House campaign arm...

Right on! They, indeed, "reap what they sow". Of course, they will now say they couldn't get their message out and they will try to more and more appeal to "independents". Appealing to these bubble heads will only drive the base further away.

Campaign finance reform (how's that working out for you, Johnny), immigration, "gang of 12", 900+ billion give away, no ANWR drilling - the base is GONE. The only Republicans that can effectively reach into the back pockets of supporters are individuals who are running for office. All faith in the RNC is gone.