Posted on 09/02/2014 11:31:02 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Tepid fundraising, underperforming candidates and a lousy party brand are threatening to deprive House Republicans of the sweeping 2014 gains that some top party officials have been predicting this year.
POLITICO interviewed more than a dozen top strategists from both parties about their outlook for the House in the midterms, and their assessment was nearly unanimous: Republicans are on track to expand their majority by only five or six seats, or roughly half their goal. The conversations covered everything from advertising strategies to fundraising to polling.
A small gain would again leave Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) largely beholden to the tea party wing of the party, with little room to maneuver on a governing agenda.
With the post-Labor Day homestretch kicking off, the interviews revealed:
* Republicans are convinced they’ll be significantly outspent by Democrats — in contrast to the 2010 midterm elections, when the GOP overwhelmed its opponents with an avalanche of cash.
* GOP strategists are particularly worried about the performance of a handful of candidates who are well-positioned to win but seen as running poor campaigns. Three are mentioned repeatedly: Florida Rep. Steve Southerland, Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry and Virginia House candidate Barbara Comstock.
* Nearly a year after the government shutdown, Republicans privately say the party’s tattered public image is dragging down candidates in key races.
* Despite the GOP’s troubles, Democrats remain anxious that the political environment could deteriorate still further before Election Day. They say two of their vulnerable incumbents, New Hampshire Rep. Carol Shea-Porter and Illinois Rep. Bill Enyart, may soon be lost causes and are scrambling to prevent that list from growing.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
How's that working out for you, GOP-E?
Should have photoshopped Mitch McConnell’s mug into that picture.
GOPe is clueless beyond comprehension. We’re doomed.
There’s been too much “rebranding” going on out there!
I remain convinced you are a concern-troll leftist.
Please think twice before you do this our country is in REAL trouble,
I know how MANY, MANY times it has been said before but McConnel
is the lesser of two evils, Harry Reid is OUT OF HIS MIND!!!!!!!!
Please think twice before you do this our country is in REAL trouble,
I know how MANY, MANY times it has been said before but McConnel
is the lesser of two evils, Harry Reid is OUT OF HIS MIND!!!!!!!!
The GOPe and democrats are simply playing “good cop, bad cop” with us.
Fool me once.
In the year before 2012, Obama's Gallup numbers were breakeven to positive 75% of the time and mid-single digits negative about 25% of the time. Prior to 2010, his numbers were negative by about 3 to 4 points during the last six months. In the 2014 cycle, Obama's numbers have been negative by about 10 points for the last 13 months. The White House's numbers have a huge impact on Congress. Bush single-handedly ushered in the Dems' lop-sided domination of Congress in 2006 with his lousy Iraq- and Katrina-related poll numbers.
Maybe the GOP does not want to “win big”.
Just squeak by.
If they win big, they will actually have to do something.
If they squeak by, they can blame the close Senate as a reason they
can’t get anything done.
What party image? They have no platform, no vision, no plan on what
they will do with power, if power is given to them. Democrats bad will
not be enough.
None of us disagree with the ineptitude of the GOP especially among the congressional leadership and they do lack a cohesive message, but this is an attempt by a leftist journalist to discourage Republicans from voting. The media knows the American people are upset but they’re trying to put the blame on both parties with a little added emphasis on GOP blame for the country’s ills. They’re trying to lessen the Dems losses in congress with stories like this. It’s going to be another 2010 liberal wipeout and every politician and media hack knows it.
We can do both. Win the senate and get rid of McConnell.
Amen.
I used to believe it would get so bad and sanity would return. I no longer believe that. People have lost all cognitive ability. They have amnesia to boot. They can't even remember 6 years ago when they had jobs, houses, optimism, everything costing 50% less---they don't even remember.
Look at Venezuala, they interview the dumb bastards waiting in line to buy toilet paper and who do you think they blame? The rich.
RE: Look at Venezuala, they interview the dumb bastards waiting in line to buy toilet paper and who do you think they blame? The rich.
The vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza will STILL vote for Hamas. We have met the enemy and he is us.
Would it energize the Republican Conservative Base if Boehner were to resign as Speaker next week, and Trey Gowdy became Speaker?
Just that your mutual enemy is bad is not enough anymore.
Not to harp on what should be the obvious, but the GOP has made it clear that conservatives must take a back seat to the Republican left, illegals, homosexuals and bigger government. Now the GOP is offering a Romney rerun, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie and their new converts, Rubio and Paul Ryan. The GOP went all out to make sure the Republican left beat out Tea Party candidates, so conservative money has dried up. It can get worse.
“GOP falling short in midterms”
With the failed, bumbling House Republican leadership currently in place, the Stupid Party is lucky they won’t lose 100 seats.
Buying the lie from Politico????
Republicans will be +6 to +10. The Senate looks better and better.
Let’s get the MAJORITY and then clean house. Let’s identify who is with us and who is against us. The best way to expose weak Republicans is by having them betray the majority when they have it. In the minority anyone can hide.
What exactly is the GOP running on besides democrats bad?
What is their plan, their vision for America.
Tell us. We all would to know. What promises have they made if power
is given to them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.