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The Note: In Pennsylvania’s special election, an expensive lesson for Republicans
abcnews.go ^

Posted on 03/14/2018 5:15:12 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27

More than $10 million, a visit by President Donald Trump, the mobilization of the GOP army … all to buy a tie?

It’s not just any tie.

Republicans fought to almost (but not quite) even in a district Trump carried by nearly 20 points in 2016, and where Democrats had stopped bothering to even field House candidates in recent cycles. Plus, the district won’t even exist this time next year.

Whether Conor Lamb assumes a seat in Congress is almost secondary at this point. He already showed that that red can turn purple and purple can turn close to blue, in the beating heart of Trump country — even if that gets done while keeping distance between candidate and national party.

As Republicans pick up the pieces – and ponder the prospect of spending more money on Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District if Rick Saccone wants a recount – they will know well that there are easily 100 House districts that are likely to be more competitive than Pennsylvania’s special election had any right to be.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: 2018midterms; election; lessons; pa2018; pennsylvania; republicans; saccone
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1 posted on 03/14/2018 5:15:12 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
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To: ChicagoConservative27

It’s the poor candidates, Stupid.


2 posted on 03/14/2018 5:16:56 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: ChicagoConservative27

In 2016, the republicans didn’t win Pennsylvania. Trump won Pennsylvania.

For all intents and purposes, Trump is an independent. I think that is how the non-Republicans see him in their heart of hearts.


3 posted on 03/14/2018 5:17:39 AM PDT by robroys woman (So you're not confused, I'm male.)
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To: dfwgator

This is the same party that runs Lindsey Graham in South Carolina.


4 posted on 03/14/2018 5:19:44 AM PDT by The_Media_never_lie (The MSM is the enemy of the American people.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

VOTER FRAUD!!!!!!!!

I AM NOT BUYING THESE LAST MINUTE RAZOR THIN MARGINS


5 posted on 03/14/2018 5:22:26 AM PDT by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing Obamacare is worse than Obamacare itself.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

An expensive lesson for Republicans? Lamb ran as a pro life, pro gun Dem. He got by with the benefit of having no voting record in Congress. Once he gets there and has to vote with his party leadership, the GOP can hang his liberal voting record around his neck like an albatross. He’ll be in DC for 8 months.


6 posted on 03/14/2018 5:24:11 AM PDT by TallahasseeConservative ( Isaiah 40:31)
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To: Mr. K

>>VOTER FRAUD!!!!!!!!

I AM NOT BUYING THESE LAST MINUTE RAZOR THIN MARGINS
******************************************************
Happens over and over again, as they laugh at how easy it is for them to get away with it. And they will keep doing it until they have regained control. Nothing has changed. Swampster fraud continues.

The Feds have a right and DUTY to protect the civil rights of the voters of the United States. Sessions’ domain.

It should be crystal clear by now that the system will NOT be repaired or restored from within.


7 posted on 03/14/2018 5:27:22 AM PDT by Kalamata (Meat hooks for Tyrants)
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To: robroys woman
Pat Toomey also won in PA in 2016 ... by getting probably 30% or more of his votes from people who DIDN'T vote for Trump.

But your point is correct. Trump's performance in a Congressional district is not necessarily a strong indication of the GOP's prospects in that district.

8 posted on 03/14/2018 5:30:06 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Go ahead, bite the Big Apple ... don't mind the maggots.")
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To: robroys woman
In 2016, the republicans didn’t win Pennsylvania. Trump won Pennsylvania.

On what issues did the republican candidate differ from Trump?

9 posted on 03/14/2018 5:37:46 AM PDT by Poison Pill
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To: TallahasseeConservative

To my mind, the lesson of PA is that Democrats can win if their candidates support a mostly Republican platform.
Not sure that is good news for the Demoncrat party!


10 posted on 03/14/2018 5:38:58 AM PDT by milagro (There is no peace in appeasement!)
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To: milagro

Trouble is Demonrat candidates will say anything to get elected and then do whatever Nancy tells them to do.


11 posted on 03/14/2018 5:43:04 AM PDT by slorunner
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To: ChicagoConservative27

This is a historically Democrat district.


12 posted on 03/14/2018 5:49:41 AM PDT by Lisbon1940 (No full-term Governors (at the time of election!)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

And to think this debacle could’ve been avoided in the first place, had Tim “pro-life, really I am” Murphy just kept it in his f***ing pants.


13 posted on 03/14/2018 5:54:17 AM PDT by ScottinVA ( Liberals, go find another country.)
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To: robroys woman

Agreed. Trump is an Independent/populist.


14 posted on 03/14/2018 5:58:59 AM PDT by EdnaMode
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To: Poison Pill

Let me clarify: Trump didn’t win because he was a republican. He won because he’s trump. There was a fair consensus around here that the R party was not exactly ecstatic about him getting the nomination. ;-)


15 posted on 03/14/2018 6:09:46 AM PDT by robroys woman (So you're not confused, I'm male.)
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To: ChicagoConservative27

women should pass a test to vote. There are too many who voted for this guy’s looks and charm and believed his lies because they could not get past his age/looks/charm. Some (too many) young women are suckers for the likes of the lamb democrat!

I knew it the moment I saw what he looked like. You gotta’ go back to John Kennedy days to know looks works! Charm works... never mind the message!

I am female BTW.


16 posted on 03/14/2018 6:18:35 AM PDT by frnewsjunkie
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To: Mr. K

If it was this margin with a Democrat there would be violence in the streets until there was a leftist outcome.

As shown by Florida.


17 posted on 03/14/2018 6:22:16 AM PDT by Celerity
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To: robroys woman
Trump didn’t win because he was a republican. He won because he’s trump.

Fair enough. But that begs the question going forward; can Trumpism (whatever that is) be replicated in a election where Trump isn't on the ticket? So far, it's 0-2.

18 posted on 03/14/2018 6:26:58 AM PDT by Poison Pill
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To: Poison Pill

Well, I left the R party back in W’s second term. I’m independent now. I can’t vote for any democrat because they are connected to the D platform. I vote for R’s, but usually only after holding my nose. I see almost all of them as RINO’s.

That being said, my main beef is with the voters. I’m so far out of touch with the US culture that I just left Seattle about 7 years ago, got a farm in central KY and am just trying to leave Babylon alone, though I still vote.


19 posted on 03/14/2018 6:30:05 AM PDT by robroys woman (So you're not confused, I'm male.)
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To: Poison Pill
"On what issues did the republican candidate differ from Trump? "

On what issues did the Democrat candidate differ from Trump?

"Lamb went in +6 and barely won (pending challenges). He had to run as a pro-2A, pro-life, anti-Pelosi Dem. Hardly representative of their party. More importantly, the seat won't exist in November."

I think I read that the Ds have a 50,000 voter registration advantage in the district. Still, if Lamb had run as a Republican and Saccone as a Democrat it would have been a blowout. Saccone wasn't a very good candidate and his predecessor quit in a sex scandal. Trump almost pulled Saccone over the line.

The Republican party needs to look at this, do an autopsy, think about it and stop doing stupid things before November.

20 posted on 03/14/2018 6:39:41 AM PDT by Sooth2222 (Hanlon's Razor: "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.")
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