Cole Seeks To 'Nationalize' 2008 Elections
By Aaron Blake/The Hill ~ All politics is officially no longer local at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).
NRCC Chairman Tom Cole signaled Monday that he is set to nationalize the 2008 battle for the House by tagging the “liberal” label on Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Cole’s predecessor, Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.), insisted amid a tough national environment for the GOP that House races are all unique to their locales. Just two years later, though, Cole (Okla.) is ready to flip that strategy on its head and emulate what Democrats used to great effect in 2006.
Obama’s and Pelosi’s negatives aren’t as high nationwide as the Democrats’ chief villain figure, President Bush, but Cole said the strategy can work for two reasons: because much of the battleground is GOP-leaning territory, and because Pelosi’s and Obama’s numbers get worse as her name ID climbs and his nomination battle drags on.
“Our candidates are trying to turn those things into, now, referendums on Pelosi and on Obama,” Cole said.
Despite enjoying wide support early and wooing independents, Obama was recently rated the most liberal member of the Senate by the National Journal and has endured some of his toughest weeks on the campaign trail this month.
According to internal NRCC numbers obtained by The Hill, Obama has a 32 percent favorable and 58 percent unfavorable rating in Mississippi’s 1st district, where Republicans nearly lost a special election last week to a Democratic takeover. The race will go to a runoff May 13.
His numbers were better but similar, 37-50, in Louisiana’s 6th district, where a special will be held Saturday.
Pelosi’s numbers in those two districts were 18-39 and 24-47, respectively.
“We like the way that’s unfolding,” Cole said. “We would rather be running national elections.”
Read the entire story at http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/cole-seeks-to-nationalize-election-with-sen.-obama-speaker-pelosi-2008-04-28.html
NRCC Chairman Tom Cole signaled Monday that he is set to nationalize the 2008 battle for the House by tagging the “liberal” label on Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Cole’s predecessor, Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.), insisted amid a tough national environment for the GOP that House races are all unique to their locales. Just two years later, though, Cole (Okla.) is ready to flip that strategy on its head and emulate what Democrats used to great effect in 2006.
Obama’s and Pelosi’s negatives aren’t as high nationwide as the Democrats’ chief villain figure, President Bush, but Cole said the strategy can work for two reasons: because much of the battleground is GOP-leaning territory, and because Pelosi’s and Obama’s numbers get worse as her name ID climbs and his nomination battle drags on.
“Our candidates are trying to turn those things into, now, referendums on Pelosi and on Obama,” Cole said.
Despite enjoying wide support early and wooing independents, Obama was recently rated the most liberal member of the Senate by the National Journal and has endured some of his toughest weeks on the campaign trail this month.
According to internal NRCC numbers obtained by The Hill, Obama has a 32 percent favorable and 58 percent unfavorable rating in Mississippi’s 1st district, where Republicans nearly lost a special election last week to a Democratic takeover. The race will go to a runoff May 13.
His numbers were better but similar, 37-50, in Louisiana’s 6th district, where a special will be held Saturday.
Pelosi’s numbers in those two districts were 18-39 and 24-47, respectively.
“We like the way that’s unfolding,” Cole said. “We would rather be running national elections.”
Read the entire story at http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/cole-seeks-to-nationalize-election-with-sen.-obama-speaker-pelosi-2008-04-28.html
Labels: 2008 Elections, Tom Cole
posted by Mike McCarville @ 10:18 AM
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