Yeah, lets hope so. In recent election cycles, really ever since the districts were gerrymandered last time and Wamp went to the 3rd District the Republicans have only put up token candidates for not only Congress, but for the state legislature seats, too. Last election the first time I saw the Republican Congressional candidate's name was on the ballot the day of the election. That is sad commentary on the part of the Tennessee Republican Committee folks. This is a rural and very conservative area and there should really not be any Democrats in high elected office and there wouldn't be if the 'Pubbies would only get in gear and put up good candidates and at least spring for some yard signs. Thus far, that has not been the case. Several candidates I've met on the Republican side have told me that they got little or no support from the state Republican folks...
I believe that about the State Party people in EVERY state. I honestly think some have cut deals with the Dems on seats — we won’t run here if you don’t run someone there.
Time for the grassroots to work and help fund candidates. The powers at be tried to do it to Coburn but it didn’t work in 2004. He was not the chosen candidate — mayor of OKC held that title including a mailout in the primary showing him at the WH with President Bush. That did not go over well with the grassroots so with the help of Club for Growth (Coburn’s fundraising had been shut off by the good old boy network) and a ground game made up of grassroots activists we helped him win the primary and then the general.
It takes a good candidate and a lot of elbow grease from the grassrots to tell the State Party to get on board or get the h*ll out of the way. If we are going to get good conservative candidates elected across this Country, we have to decide right now that we are going to spend our energy and any extra resources to do just that. Boots on the ground is priceless energy for the campaigns.