To finish that sentence, Rhodes was apparently well liked by conservative activists.
Amusingly, a liberal blog that calls Tillis “radical” and “far right”, pegs Rhodes as the “more reasonable Republican” that Tillis beat.
Apparently Tillis denies that he was recruited by the sleazy ex-Speaker Morgan for the sole purpose of removing a “thorn from his butt.” Maybe we can get a two-fer, defeating Tillis in the Senate primary and having Rhodes make a comeback for his old seat (presuming he’s still in that district).