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Republican Establishment Sweeps Tea Party in First Round of Primaries
National Journal ^ | 05-06-2014 | Josh Kraushaar

Posted on 05/06/2014 10:08:26 PM PDT by PaulCruz2016

North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis won the Republican Senate nomination in the Tar Heel State on Tuesday evening, comfortably surpassing the 40 percent threshold to win the nomination. His victory ratifies the aggressive strategy adopted by establishment-oriented outside groups, led by American Crossroads, to spend millions on behalf of favored candidates and attack their rivals when necessary.

North Carolina was the opening battleground in the fight between the Republican Party's two main factions, and it's a sign the establishment's no-holds-barred strategy is paying off. American Crossroads spent $1.6 million on behalf of Tillis, significantly more than the resources of Republican challengers Greg Brannon and Mark Harris. They aired three ads, which each touted Tillis's conservative record and rebutted Democratic attacks against him.

The goal was simple: Increase Tillis's low name identification, knowing his opponents wouldn't have the resources to fight back. In January, the group commissioned a survey from veteran GOP pollster Jan van Lohuizen showing Tillis only tallying 16 percent in the crowded field, with 60 percent of Republican voters unsure of their choice. Just over one-quarter of North Carolina GOP voters were familiar with Tillis. But in the middle of their advertising blitz in late April, another poll commissioned by Crossroads and conducted by van Lohuizen found Tillis's name identification had shot up to 66 percent, with him tallying 38 percent of the primary vote. That same poll showed only about one-third of voters familiar with Brannon and Harris.

Their strategy was twofold: Spend early to avoid a financially costly runoff that could wound Tillis for the general election and begin to make the case against embattled Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan. It worked, with Tillis winning well over 40 percent across the board, in most North Carolina counties.

"The stakes were pretty high for us to get him there," American Crossroads Political Director Carl Forti said. "We may have had to spend significantly more to get [Tillis] through a runoff, and that's money that's not going to other important races."

The Karl Rove-aligned super PAC took heat last year from conservatives for announcing the formation of the Conservative Victory Project, an effort designed to prevent less-electable candidates from winning primaries. But with considerably less fanfare, the group achieved the same results by employing a similar strategy to boost Tillis. Crossroads officials said that it's likely they will get involved in additional primaries, given the successful outcome in North Carolina.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which spent over $1 million in ads backing Tillis, also saw two other endorsed candidates prevail in contested primaries—Rep. David Joyce in Ohio and North Carolina congressional candidate David Rouzer. The pro-business lobby attacked Joyce and Rouzer's conservative primary challengers as sleazy "trial lawyers" in ads, before they could catch any momentum. House Speaker John Boehner also comfortably prevailed in his primary, winning 69 percent of the vote.

The establishment is also gaining momentum in the run-up to the next wave of congressional primaries in Nebraska (May 13); Georgia, Idaho, and Kentucky (May 20); and Iowa and Mississippi (June 3). Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to easily prevail against tea-party challenger Matt Bevin, despite outside conservative groups' involvement in support of Bevin. In a sign of early exuberance, Republican National Committee spokesman Jahan Wilcox tweeted "next stop is that fraud Matt Bevin!" after the Associated Press called the race for Tillis.

Meanwhile, Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho is now favored to fend off a challenge from Club for Growth-backed attorney Bryan Smith. Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst, the candidate favored by Iowa GOP Gov. Terry Branstad, is winning support from establishment allies (Mitt Romney) and tea-party favorites (Sarah Palin) alike. In Georgia, the weakest Republican candidates are fading in the primary, making it more likely Republicans will nominate a strong opponent against Democrat Michelle Nunn.

The establishment's biggest test will come in Mississippi, where Sen. Thad Cochran is relying on allies aligned with former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour to fend off a serious challenge from state Sen. Chris McDaniel, who is supported by leading outside conservative groups.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: gop; karlrove; rove; teaparty; thomtillis; tillis
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To: Ronniesque

Actually, that is a plus and maybe you do not recognize that. You have much more information about who and why you vote for a candidate. It’s called more information rather that propaganda regarding candidates. Rather a rare thing these days.


81 posted on 05/07/2014 12:04:40 AM PDT by Deagle (ues)
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To: goldstategop

“Tea Party is getting swamped because the low information candidates they run are easy pickings for the Democrats.”

Yes that is correct and will always be so for “low information voters” as you say. I put those folks into the category of no news, news that is left, or news to be ignored. Maybe they are in the category of just leave us alone folks or get lost! These are promising Tea Party voters to me.

Just where do you put these “voting” folks fellow?


82 posted on 05/07/2014 12:18:38 AM PDT by Deagle (ues)
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To: itsahoot

Time to put Goldstategop out to pasture...He is obviously a GOP infiltrator and doing a fine job I might add...heh.

Hey fellow, nice of you to drop by...


83 posted on 05/07/2014 12:26:22 AM PDT by Deagle (ues)
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To: GeronL

And they’ll get them. Still, some suckers will continue to play the game.


84 posted on 05/07/2014 12:32:41 AM PDT by Viennacon
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To: ansel12

He hates the Tea Party. what’s new?


85 posted on 05/07/2014 12:33:28 AM PDT by Viennacon
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To: goldstategop

You must be a special kind of retarded. How many of your CRAPPY candidates lost races? ND, MT, WI, VA, MI, NM, FL, the list goes on and on.


86 posted on 05/07/2014 12:34:25 AM PDT by Viennacon
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To: JSDude1

Oh, good luck with that. You’ll have several Quisling Freepers stabbing you in the back and supporting Linda Gayham 100% They all came out of the woodwork tonight.


87 posted on 05/07/2014 12:38:08 AM PDT by Viennacon
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To: sand88

I’m with you on that. I am done with the establishment. They can go to hell. We’ve been through 15 years with these same losers.


88 posted on 05/07/2014 12:39:12 AM PDT by Viennacon
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To: Deagle

Clearly. The guy needs to go back to Dummieland


89 posted on 05/07/2014 12:39:58 AM PDT by Viennacon
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To: ObamahatesPACoal

“I hope Clay Aiken beats Ellmers.”

You want a Dem to beat a Republican?

You’ve lost your bearings, or worse.


90 posted on 05/07/2014 12:42:34 AM PDT by ifinnegan
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To: PaulCruz2016
Tea Party candidates who hold office are also holding their own as well against attacks by the GOPe.

This is about the power of incumbency, not the weakness of the TeaParty.

If we can knock off Cochren or Graham, it will be successful campaign season.

91 posted on 05/07/2014 1:06:39 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: goldstategop

We don’t have to like them but they’re the only game in town.


there was a time when the Whig party was the only game in town too.


92 posted on 05/07/2014 1:27:43 AM PDT by RginTN
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To: goldstategop

Weird. A party that has gotten utterly trounced in elections for a decade is being touted at experts at winning elections. What they are doing is dumping big business money behind loyal drones who will continue open borders and big government policies....the people be damned.


93 posted on 05/07/2014 4:02:38 AM PDT by ilgipper
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To: goldstategop

What’s the GOP record? They lost far more senate seats with non tea party candidates than the tea party. If you are looking for 100% success rate in polItics, it doesn’t exists.

Who was going to be a lock in in nevada against a majorty leader? Your argument is fatally flawed.


94 posted on 05/07/2014 4:06:38 AM PDT by ilgipper
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To: goldstategop

I should listen to a California Republican? You are a joke.


95 posted on 05/07/2014 4:11:39 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: PaulCruz2016

If the establishment all get back in, we are left with one choice. Not the ballot box.


96 posted on 05/07/2014 5:46:18 AM PDT by Old Yeller (Why is Jon Corzine a free man?)
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To: goldstategop

>> They blew winnable contests in Nevada, Delaware, Indiana and Missouri. <<

Yes, and don’t forget “Senator Ken Buck” from Colorado or “Senator Linda McMahon” from Connecticut.


97 posted on 05/07/2014 6:35:46 AM PDT by Hawthorn
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To: goldstategop

There is no doubt the TP put up many not ready for prime time candidates... and it cost the republicans seats in 2012.

Now the republicans are handling them easily, which should have always been the case. When a not ready for prime time candidate shows up against an experienced one, the not ready for prime time should be taken out in the primaries.

The question here is how and why the republicans are now handling the 2nd and 3rd tier TP candidates so handily? If the low calibre, not ready for prime time TP candidates are being handled easily because the Republican Part has moved right politically to head them off, that’s a good thing because that means the Republican party will move back to conservative beliefs.

If however they are knocking of the TP candidates handily due to nefarious means then that’s not a good sign.

In general, TP will have to up its game and recruit better candidates to stay relevant, and the Republicans will have to move more to the right to counter them. This is a good thing long term but it won’t happen overnight. If the TP doesn’t up its game and recruit better candidates they will just become irrelevant and the Republicans will start sliding left again.

It will be interesting to see what the TP does next cycle.


98 posted on 05/07/2014 6:45:10 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: ilgipper

>> Who was going to be a lock in in nevada against a majorty leader? Your argument is fatally flawed. <<

Yeah, sure, just like the argument that John Thune could never beat Majority Leader Tom Daschel.


99 posted on 05/07/2014 6:48:27 AM PDT by Hawthorn
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To: PaulCruz2016

Tillis is already in trouble. Democrats have fired up the “mean to handicapped people” machine.


100 posted on 05/07/2014 6:54:02 AM PDT by AppyPappy
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