Author Topic: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff  (Read 1408 times)

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Offline Formerly Once-Ler

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Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« on: June 04, 2014, 06:05:19 am »
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/primary-elections-2014-mississippi-california-new-jersey-iowa-107388.html

Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran appeared to fall short of claiming the GOP nomination for a seventh term Tuesday, sending the longtime incumbent and his tea party challenger stumbling into a costly runoff election and scrambling the general-election landscape in one of the nation’s most conservative states.

Already a savagely personal race, the duel between Cochran and activist state Sen. Chris McDaniel could now drag on until the next vote on June 24 and present national Republicans with a dilemma: Whether to continue supporting the senator and tearing down McDaniel at the potential cost of damaging the party’s eventual nominee.

Outside groups have already spent more than $8 million in the Republican Senate primary, an extraordinary sum in a small state that rarely hosts competitive federal elections. Cochran and his allies have assailed McDaniel as a bumbling snake-oil salesman and finger-in-the wind opportunist who’s out of touch with Mississippi’s priorities. McDaniel and his campaign have attacked Cochran’s record of voting for federal spending, accused him of being soft on President Barack Obama and raised not-so-veiled questions about the senator’s age.

All that may continue for weeks to come, with no easy way out for a national GOP that worked strenuously to bolster Cochran against his sharp-elbowed challenger.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, McDaniel held less than a 1-point lead over Cochran, the second-longest serving Republican in the U.S. Senate. Neither candidate has won the simple majority needed to avert a second round of voting: At midnight, McDaniel had 49.6 percent of the vote to Cochran’s 48.8 percent, a difference of about 2,500 votes out of more than 300,000 cast.

An obscure third candidate, Thomas Carey, had 1.6 percent – probably just enough to prolong the political plight of Republicans in the state and nationally by another three weeks.

The primary was balanced on a knife’s edge in the run-up to June 3, as outside groups continued to plow hundreds of thousands of dollars into ads supporting both candidates. The National Senatorial Committee rushed additional field staff to the state to fill gaps in Cochran’s turnout operation.

And Cochran appeared to benefit from a wave of sympathy after a group of pro-McDaniel activists were arrested and charged with a lurid conspiracy to break into a nursing home and take photographs of the senator’s wife, Rose Cochran, who suffers from progressive dementia.

All that was not enough to propel Cochran across the finish line. It is now unclear which national groups would continue to spend millions on the runoff, or whether Cochran will continue to enjoy the foursquare support of Mississippi’s Republican establishment.

Cochran did not give a speech on election night. His campaign tweeted that the race was a “dead heat,” writing: “New campaign starts tomorrow. Three weeks to victory!” In his own election-night remarks, McDaniel expressed confidence that he would emerge as the nominee, “whether it’s tomorrow or three weeks from tonight.”

“This is a historic moment in this state’s history. And because of your hard work, because of your dedication, we sit here tonight leading a 42-year incumbent,” McDaniel said.

Cochran backers acknowledged ahead of Tuesday’s vote that a runoff would be an alarming prospect, one that would likely force the senator to compete with an even smaller group of voters that skews still further to the right.

Democrats have watched the race as intently as Republicans: Despite Mississippi’s strongly conservative tilt, Democrats hope to mount a competitive general-election campaign against McDaniel, a slash-and-burn ideological activist who fashions himself after Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and has a hefty record of incendiary statements and personal associations.

Within the last two weeks, private Democratic polling has shown that the party’s nominee, former Rep. Travis Childers, would start a general election statistically tied with McDaniel. A race against Cochran, who is well-liked by independents and many Democrats, would be difficult to the point of futility.

If he was unable to capture his party’s nomination outright Tuesday, McDaniel’s upset showing is an agonizing blow to entrenched GOP leaders in Jackson and Washington D.C. – and a banner triumph for the national conservative groups that plowed millions into his campaign.

In a season of defeats for the activist wing of the Republican Party, McDaniel represents a powerful corrective to forecasts of the tea party’s demise. Though McDaniel reported raising only $1.3 million for his own campaign, the Club for Growth put $2.5 million into boosting him; the Senate Conservatives Fund spent over a million more as other spenders, including the Tea Party Patriots and Citizens United, piled on.

Cochran enjoyed heavy-duty outside backing for his campaign, as well, including a $1.7 million effort by the Mississippi Conservatives super PAC, a group led by Republican National Committee member Henry Barbour and promoted by Haley Barbour, the former Mississippi governor. Business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Realtors added hundreds of thousands of dollars more to Cochran’s air support.

Now, all that spending may wind on for the better part of a month, costing millions of dollars more and likely intensifying already-bitter divisions the race has opened within the GOP.

Even with that looming risk, some influential GOP strategists would still favor an all-out war on McDaniel, whose record of controversial statements about Mississippi-centric issues, such as hurricane relief; and his past incendiary remarks about immigration and homosexuality may make him a tough sell for middle-of-the road Republicans and the party’s major donors

Offline Carling

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2014, 06:09:03 am »
As an accused GOPe supporter, I'm going to turn the tables and say Cochran should gracefully bow out should he lose, and McDaniel gets nearly 50% of the vote.

Time is up, Thad.  Thanks for your service, but let's get a real fiscal conservative into office in Mississippi.  If your party supported you, you would have won this in a landslide.  This is the type of seat attainable for Tea Party/libertarians, and I'll do what I can to elect Cochran and pull the DC GOP a bit further toward fiscal responsibility. 
« Last Edit: June 04, 2014, 06:10:10 am by Carling »
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Offline Formerly Once-Ler

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2014, 07:22:58 am »
As an accused GOPe supporter, I'm going to turn the tables and say Cochran should gracefully bow out should he lose, and McDaniel gets nearly 50% of the vote.

Time is up, Thad.  Thanks for your service, but let's get a real fiscal conservative into office in Mississippi.  If your party supported you, you would have won this in a landslide.  This is the type of seat attainable for Tea Party/libertarians, and I'll do what I can to elect Cochran and pull the DC GOP a bit further toward fiscal responsibility.

Quote
Quote
Thad for Mississippi @ThadforMS  ·  46m
Dead heat! Less than 500 votes separate the two candidates. New campaign starts tomorrow. Three weeks to victory!
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stuart stevens ‏@stuartpstevens 31m
@ThadforMS won 51 counties tonight to @senatormcdaniel 31. Broad support. We grew up on runoff's in Ms. This will be fun. Let's go.

Cochran wasn't sure he wanted to run again, but the GOPe convinced him to stay on.
http://www.humanevents.com/2013/12/18/mississippi-toss-up-cochrane-v-mcdaniel-in-human-eventsgravis-poll/
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“These Mississippi numbers would seem to validate Cochran’s reluctance to declare his intentions. If he’s going to win re-election it’ll literally be the political fight of his life. He may have the stomach for it, or he may just hang it up,” he said.
Cochran doesn't sound defeated.  He has to know he is the underdog.  He is unlikely to win with an even smaller electorate in a runoff.  No one will ask McDaniel to concede even though less than a thousand votes separate them.

There once was a time when 6 out of 10 Republicans self-identified as Tea Partiers.  Today it is 3 out of 10.  except maybe in MS.  The GOPe is fighting for the soul and direction of the party.  Do we as a party recognize reality and the power of the public as a whole, occasionally compromising with the rats, or do we push forward with irrational and unpopular "my way or the highway" stunts like the shutdown and continue to provide a toxic breeding ground for profit based special interests to inflict more wounds to the Grand Old Party.

One path leads to success and a Republican majority in the Senate, and other path leads to rat control of our government. 
I choose the lesser of two evils, but then again I'm sane.
It may take more time but some day soon the GOPe will tell the Tea Party to shut up and vote for who we tell them too.

I wonder what the ramifications to the Tea Party by this likely conservative take down of an incumbent GOP Senator, if McDaniel screws it up in Nov?  Some segments of the mighty GOPe may be tempted to leak their opposition research to the rats.   
« Last Edit: June 04, 2014, 07:25:30 am by Once-Ler »

Offline Carling

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2014, 03:39:46 pm »
I meant to say I would support McDaniel, and Cochran should step aside.  McDaniel will win against any Dem in MS.
« Last Edit: June 04, 2014, 03:40:49 pm by Carling »
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Offline jmyrlefuller

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #4 on: June 04, 2014, 06:16:16 pm »
So this whole contest decided nothing and we have to do this all over again in a couple of weeks. I would like to see Thomas Carey, the guy who siphoned off the <1% of the votes that deprived either one of the majority to reimburse everyone for all the trouble his vanity campaign caused. Yet that, of course, wouldn't happen.
« Last Edit: June 04, 2014, 06:17:38 pm by jmyrlefuller »
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Offline speekinout

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2014, 07:08:31 pm »
Quote
Within the last two weeks, private Democratic polling has shown that the party’s nominee, former Rep. Travis Childers, would start a general election statistically tied with McDaniel. A race against Cochran, who is well-liked by independents and many Democrats, would be difficult to the point of futility.

Who besides a dim or a suicidal GOPer would want Cochran to be the one to withdraw?? We don't need any more futile Tea Party candidates. Particularly one with an unexplained scandal (the nursing home photos) waiting in the background.  :chairbang:

Offline Bigun

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2014, 07:17:35 pm »
Who besides a dim or a suicidal GOPer would want Cochran to be the one to withdraw?? We don't need any more futile Tea Party candidates. Particularly one with an unexplained scandal (the nursing home photos) waiting in the background.  :chairbang:

Not to worry! The TEA party is dead! Don't you read the papers?
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
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Offline speekinout

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #7 on: June 04, 2014, 07:34:01 pm »
Not to worry! The TEA party is dead! Don't you read the papers?

If they keep doing this kind of thing, I'll know the cause of death was suicide.

Offline sinkspur

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #8 on: June 04, 2014, 07:57:44 pm »
Who besides a dim or a suicidal GOPer would want Cochran to be the one to withdraw?? We don't need any more futile Tea Party candidates. Particularly one with an unexplained scandal (the nursing home photos) waiting in the background.  :chairbang:

We have another Christine O'Donnell in McDaniel.  Forget the nursing home scandal.  His radio shows (all recorded) are a treasure trove of racism and kookiness.

The ONLY Tea Party win is going to cost the GOP a seat they hadn't figured into the mix.
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Offline Bigun

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2014, 07:59:14 pm »
If they keep doing this kind of thing, I'll know the cause of death was suicide.

Last time I looked the polls had congress at about 11% approval. How is that going to get fixed if we keep sending all of the same players back?
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline Bigun

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #10 on: June 04, 2014, 08:01:02 pm »
We have another Christine O'Donnell in McDaniel.  Forget the nursing home scandal.  His radio shows (all recorded) are a treasure trove of racism and kookiness.

The ONLY Tea Party win is going to cost the GOP a seat they hadn't figured into the mix.

Got a link? Who decided that what he has said is racist or kookie? You?
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline speekinout

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #11 on: June 04, 2014, 08:04:39 pm »
We have another Christine O'Donnell in McDaniel.  Forget the nursing home scandal.  His radio shows (all recorded) are a treasure trove of racism and kookiness.

The ONLY Tea Party win is going to cost the GOP a seat they hadn't figured into the mix.

Oh, goody.  There's no end of material for the dim campaign. /sarc


Offline speekinout

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #12 on: June 04, 2014, 08:07:07 pm »
Last time I looked the polls had congress at about 11% approval. How is that going to get fixed if we keep sending all of the same players back?

This is a dim Senate. I can pretty much guarantee that another dim controlled Congress won't score any better than the current one.  Let's just try with a GOP majority in both houses for once and see what happens.

Offline Bigun

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #13 on: June 04, 2014, 08:17:28 pm »
This is a dim Senate. I can pretty much guarantee that another dim controlled Congress won't score any better than the current one.  Let's just try with a GOP majority in both houses for once and see what happens.

We had just that for several years I recall! Was there even a pretense of a return to Constitutional government during that time?

I think not!
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline speekinout

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #14 on: June 04, 2014, 08:24:56 pm »
We had just that for several years I recall! Was there even a pretense of a return to Constitutional government during that time?

I think not!

The last time we had that was in the first 2 years of Bush's second term. That was an entirely different situation.
And, no, we're never going to go back to a strictly Constitutional gov't. We got away from that for good in FDR's admin. But that doesn't have to mean we are just as well off with a socialist dictator.

Offline Bigun

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #15 on: June 04, 2014, 08:41:46 pm »
The last time we had that was in the first 2 years of Bush's second term. That was an entirely different situation.
And, no, we're never going to go back to a strictly Constitutional gov't. We got away from that for good in FDR's admin. But that doesn't have to mean we are just as well off with a socialist dictator.


Well at least I now know that YOU have given up on the idea of Constitutional government! I never will as long as I'm breathing!
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline speekinout

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #16 on: June 04, 2014, 10:22:10 pm »


Well at least I now know that YOU have given up on the idea of Constitutional government! I never will as long as I'm breathing!

You're chasing unicorns. Powerless people can only rant and rave. They can't do anything. You want all or nothing. I'm not happy with nothing. I want to give power to the people who will stop this march toward total socialism. After that, we can talk about how far back we can go - maybe only one step at a time, but it's better than giving all the power to the socialists and just whining on bb's about it.

Offline EC

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #17 on: June 04, 2014, 10:33:27 pm »
You're chasing unicorns. Powerless people can only rant and rave. They can't do anything. You want all or nothing. I'm not happy with nothing. I want to give power to the people who will stop this march toward total socialism. After that, we can talk about how far back we can go - maybe only one step at a time, but it's better than giving all the power to the socialists and just whining on bb's about it.

Look in the mirror. That's where you start finding people who will stop the insanity.

The socialists have been working on this for a hundred years. One small step at a time, take the local, take the schools, take the universities, take the courts, take the statehouses. All things that impact people far more than posturing in Washington.

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Offline Carling

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #18 on: June 04, 2014, 10:33:47 pm »
Last time I looked the polls had congress at about 11% approval. How is that going to get fixed if we keep sending all of the same players back?

Yet every single member elected will receive far above 11% of the vote.
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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #19 on: June 04, 2014, 10:59:10 pm »
Yet every single member elected will receive far above 11% of the vote.

an interesting paradox, no?

Offline speekinout

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Re: Thad Cochran-Chris McDaniel barrels toward runoff
« Reply #20 on: June 05, 2014, 12:10:04 am »
Look in the mirror. That's where you start finding people who will stop the insanity.

The socialists have been working on this for a hundred years. One small step at a time, take the local, take the schools, take the universities, take the courts, take the statehouses. All things that impact people far more than posturing in Washington.

That's what I've been saying. The socialists got us here one step at a time. Some conservatives won't fight unless they can have everything all at once. Isn't gonna happen.

But taking control of Congress would be one very good step in the right direction.