You seem to expect political campaigns to be fair. Why?
Prospecting for Democrat votes in an open primary is a legitimate tactic. But Cochrane's campaign went over the line when it aimed racist slurs at fellow Republicans.
If you subscribe to the tea party, you've just been tarred as a racist -- by the very party you normally vote for and identify with.
There are thousands of committed, conservative blacks who have been working to improve the image of the party among blacks. And this particular campaign tactic cut the legs right out from under them.
The fact of the matter is that the GOP-e's campaign tactics did more damage to the Republican brand than it did good for the Cochrane campaign.