Republicans are suddenly chickening out of running for the Senate next year. Our sources say Republicans are developing a self-esteem problem. Poor babies.
The Party hasn't been able to get the Senate candidates it wants in North Dakota, West Virginia, Florida, Michigan and Vermont.
It appears that all the corruption and indictment scandals are getting to the GOP. Or maybe it's the constituent rage over the Katrina scandal, Iraq, skyrocketing gas prices and Cronygate. Whatever the reason, Republicans are beginning to doubt the Republican maxim that selfish arrogant straight white men are God's gift to the universe.
But the GOP is working tirelessly on the problem. They have Bill Bennett working on getting out the African-American vote. They have Katherine Harris, the vile specter of 2000, who sends Dems, Independents, moderates and African Americans into unprecedented spasms of fury. Her run for the Senate will be sure to discourage the wrong folks in testy Florida from showing up at the polls in massive droves.
..Republican, pollster Tony Fabrizio, said a recruiting chill was inevitable. Candidates "aren't stupid," he said. "They see the political landscape. You are asking them to make a huge personal sacrifice. It's a lot easier to make that sacrifice if you think there's a rainbow at the end."
At the end of August, the NRSC had raised $25 million, just a little less than its counterpart, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. But the DSCC has twice as much cash on hand, $16.7 million to the NRSC's $8.2 million.
"We will be a majority" after the 2006 elections, vowed the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Yeah, a majority of losers.
Hat tip to Political Animal
UPDATE: The wise Heretik suggests that the explanation for this puzzling Republican behavior is not low self-esteem, but rather Republicans are merely crass opportunists who refuse to follow their dear leader as he 'marches off a new cliff.'
For yet more on "The Decline of the Republican Party," see Nero Fiddled.
Republicans Politics Bush Senate 2006 Katherine Harris Republican corruption
