[XJarhead]

Since when do state party chairmen constitute "rank and file"?

They don't. But then, if you read the article, it's not just the opinion of state party chairmen. It's them relaying what they've been told by the rank and file.

In Washington state, party Chairman Chris Vance said he e-mailed information about Miss Miers, provided by the Republican National Committee, to a statewide list of 10,000 Republican officials and grass-roots activists.

[thoughtomator]

But that testimony doesn't add up. How come state party chairmen report 0.1% opposition while a sampling on FR shows it at 27.7%? This sounds more like repeating the "party line" rather than true testimony of experience.

[rob777]

But then, if you read the article, it's not just the opinion of state party chairmen. It's them relaying what they've been told by the rank and file.

In Washington state, party Chairman Chris Vance said he e-mailed information about Miss Miers, provided by the Republican National Committee, to a statewide list of 10,000 Republican officials and grass-roots activists.






Let me see, party chairmen e-mail RNC provided talking points to a list and we have a survey that reports what probably is the response from those who received the e-mail. It's a lot more than "them relaying what they've been told by the rank and file." This looks to me like a self reinforcing loop designed to filter out criticism.