Once again, the battle for purity versus pragmatism has reared its unwieldy political views in the 2012 GOP Senate primaries
Three elements within the Republican are battling out over which candidates to endorse, a dissension which may or may not hurt the GOP's chances of taking key senate seats.
Let us never forget the shameful frustration of at-large Delaware Congressman Mike Castle, who lost the primary to Tea Party stalwart (and media-handicapped) Christine O'Donnell)
The three elements at work in the GOP primaries are:
1. The GOP establishment, the party apparatus which pays attention to experience and loyalty in supporting candidates for office. These are the messengers.
2. The business interests and the well-organized special interests. They have the money to back up comprehensive campaigns. Business interests are more interest in job growth and economic recovery above all else.
3. The Tea Party caucus- they are harping on the purity of the message, refusing to give up on their demands for a candidate who will stand for constitutional rule, limited government, and fiscal conservatism at all costs. This element is crucial for firing up the base and getting out the vote.
How to bring together all three encapsulates the challenge posed by William F. Buckley:
'"Support the conservative candidate who is most electable."
The coalition of
1.appeal-name recognition (not always the same)
2. money
and
3. purity
are key.
Wisconsin candidate Tommy Thompson has the appeal and the name recognition all rolled up, and may very well get the money — but for the Tea Party types, the purity is lacking.
Linda McMahon of Connecticut has the purity and the money, but not the appeal of a right-leaning businesswoman in liberal Connecticut. Her name recognition is based on her losing campaign in 2010, not a strong endorsement. One editorial commented that she would be out of step with the moderate politics of the
Ted Cruz had the purity and the money and the appeal, in part because is still a red-hot state.
Michigan poses another challenge.Former Congressman Pete Hoekstra has the name recognition, ye the appeal is lacking in part due to an early Super Bowl, racially insensitive
In Missouri, the state is so conservative, any combination of appeal and purity will take in the money for the general election to take down McCaskill, just like in North Dakota.
Richard Mourdock's appeal is gaining ground in the traditionally Republican Indiana, a state that will certainly swing back in due time, with the endorsement of Tea Party favorite Governor Mitch Daniels, who out of loyalty had endorsed Richard Lugar. (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76099.html)
The Montana race is still very close, but the Florida race has given way, as Connie Mack has bested the other GOP challengers in the polls (appeal) which have led to money and Tea-Party favor.
As long as the Tea Party element remains strong in the red states, but remains calm in the Purple/Blue states, not forcing the candidate to push too far in a primary, then the three elements of the GOP coalition will refine, rather than ruin, the GOP candidates seeking the Senate seat in each contested state.