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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNC-SEN: Tillis Moves to Lean Republican
Democrats have their sights set on Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, who is seeking a second term. But, before Tillis can focus on a Democratic challenger, he must fend off a primary to his right from wealthy businessman Garland Tucker and farmer Sandy Smith.
Tillis had spent the lions share of his career in business, holding numerous positions within PriceWaterhouseCoopers and IBM. He was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2006 and served as Speaker before running for the Senate in 2014. He won a three-way primary with 46 percent of the vote and went on to defeat then-Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, 49 percent to 47 percent. On that same ballot, Democrat Roy Cooper edged out incumbent Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, providing another piece of evidence that North Carolina has become a purple state. In 2016, Donald Trump beat Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton by four points.
The states changing political landscape forces Tillis to walk a fine. As a result, he doesnt seem to please either side. Many Republicans dont believe that he is conservative enough, while Democrats argue that he is too conservative. It doesnt help that he has some self-inflicted wounds. In February, Tillis penned an op-ed in The Washington Post in which he said that he would vote against President Trumps declaration of an emergency on the southern border. After an outcry from conservatives, he changed his position. The story continues to linger. Trump diverted some money from the Department of Defense to pay for the border wall, including $80 million that was supposed to go to North Carolina. Conservatives are unhappy that Tillis joined a bipartisan effort to protect special counsel Robert Mueller. And they continue to hold a grudge with Tillis over his tenure as Speaker of the state House, arguing that he was too willing to work across the aisle and cut deals. The bottom line is that voters of all ideological stripes simply dont trust Tillis.
Its not surprising then that Tillis pulled primary opposition. Smith, a farmer, poses less of a threat than Tucker. Tucker retired as chairman and CEO of Triangle Capital in 2016; the company was sold last year for $1 billion. A longtime conservative, Tucker has authored two books, The High Tide of American Conservatism: Davis, Coolidge and the 1924 Election and Conservative Heroes: Fourteen Leaders Who Changed America, from Jefferson to Reagan. Tucker seems to have ample personal resources to put in the race; as of June 30, he put $700,000 into the race, which amounted to most of the $1 million he reported. Tillis had nearly $4.4 million in the bank at the end of the second quarter.
https://cookpolitical.com/analysis/senate/north-carolina-senate/tillis-moves-lean-republican
PhoenixDem
(581 posts)Tillis is the best they have - he is a moderate ...sorta
If Tillis is defeated, we will get the senate seat
Response to PhoenixDem (Reply #1)
HipChick This message was self-deleted by its author.
DarthDem
(5,253 posts)Right?
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)If that does happen, GOP will go apeshit as Graham can lose to bonefide rightwinger in the primary and democrat could win in the general.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,485 posts)Saying that during Hurricane Dorian pummeling the SC Coast and inland, Graham turned tail and went to Europe instead. All the while, HArriswon was campaigning and seeing the damage left behind by Dorian.
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)the hardcore rightwing does not Graham no matter how much he as sucked up to trump.
exboyfil
(17,857 posts)policies of Coolidge and Hoover was the high tide of conservatism?
I guess they forgot a little thing called the Depression.
Hope he wins the primary.