Democrats look to wreak havoc in GOP primaries
Democrats look to wreak havoc in GOP primaries
With firebrand Republicans launching campaigns for Senate, Democrats see a chance to capitalize.
By GABRIEL DEBENEDETTI 10/06/2017 05:01 AM EDT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Democrats are looking to revive a little Todd Akin magic in 2018.
With Republican Senate primaries from West Virginia to Montana promising to pit Trump-inspired insurgents against more mainstream candidates, Democrats are considering ways to step in and wreak some havoc. The idea: Elevate the GOP’s most extreme option in each race, easing Democrats’ path to victory in a range of states tilted against them.
At its most aggressive, the tactic could be a sequel to Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill’s 2012 campaign against then-GOP Rep. Akin in Missouri. She actively intevened in the Republican primary with ads designed to boost the conservative Akin to the front of the pack. Once he became the nominee, a series of gaffes — led by his “legitimate rape” comment — and hard-line positions unraveled his campaign.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/06/gop-primaries-chaos-democrats-243487