McCaskill urged Democrat to withdraw from Kansas Senate race

[alp227]

Source: McClatchy DC

WASHINGTON — The sudden withdrawal of Democratic candidate Chad Taylor from the Kansas senate race on Wednesday came after Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill personally urged him to step aside.

Taylor’s surprise announcement on Wednesday upended what had been a three-way contest and set up a head-to-head showdown between independent candidate Greg Orman and incumbent U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas.

“I was happy to visit with Chad Taylor as he wrestled with a difficult decision,” said McCaskill, a Democrat, in a written statement Thursday. “He is a respected prosecutor, a great guy and I wish him well.”

A spokesperson for McCaskill confirmed the gist of the senator’s conversation with Taylor, but declined to go into detail.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/09/04/238756/mccaskill-urged-democrat-to-withdraw.html

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Rachel Maddow segment about McCaskill's involvement.

See also: [linK:http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/09/04/238805/kansas-makes-it-harder-for-gop.html|Kansas makes it harder for GOP to seize Senate]

McCaskill's interview with Maddow

[supercats]

1. Would Someone Explain, Please....

What is Senator McCaskill doing???

[bigdarryl]

5. She was on Rachel Maddow show being interviewed she said

He was already wrestling with the idea of withdrawing even before she talked to him.She said the only thing she told him was its a tough decision that your going to have to make.I don't see what the big deal is these Senators always make deals on the side.

[jaysunb]

2. Good move n/t

[chillfactor]

3. I heard McCaskill's interview with Rachel...

McCaskill said no such thing!

[alp227]

4. I added the link to it but haven't seen it. Did rachel ask about Chad Taylor? nt

[Justice]

6. I saw it also and agree

I did think McCaskill's response was brilliant.

[blackspade]

7. Wtf is going on?

[BlueEye]

8. In a nutshell...

The best chance of beating Pat Roberts is to NOT run a Democrat in this race. There is a third party independent who polls better than Roberts, and he used to be a Dem himself. But having an official Democrat on the ticket plus an independent splits the Blue vote and guarantees the Republican a win. By pulling the Democrat Taylor out of the race, most of his votes (I say most because apparently his name will still be on the ballot) will go to the Independent Orman and hopefully will culminate in a loss for Pat Roberts.

Many Democratic purists are going "WTF, why are the Dems taking this defeatist strategy?" But the reality is that the Democrat was never going to win in Kansas, especially in a three-way race with a viable third party candidate. If Roberts loses, the Democrats have a much better shot at KEEPING THE SENATE. This is a good political play, and I'm happy to see McCaskill was on board. Right now, all Democrats should be thinking about is holding the Senate.

[blackspade]

9. Thanks for the info.

Getting Roberts our should be paramount.
But too bad Taylor has to take one for the team.

[BlueEye]

10. No problem.

Yes, he's been a very good sport about it. Kansas Democrats have to be tough.

[Deadbeat Republicans]

11. Bold move.

my Senator, my Senator.

[Gothmog]

12. Rachel Maddow had a good interview with McCaskill last night