He appears to have. After creating upheaval and controversy around the country, Cornyn is backing off on sending money into contested open primaries:
With Republicans grappling with the fallout of an intra-party battle that may have cost them a House seat, the head of the Senate Republican campaign effort is making a pledge that may ease some of the anger being directed at the party establishment.
“We will not spend money in a contested primary,” Sen. John Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told ABC News in a telephone interview today.
“There’s no incentive for us to weigh in,” said Cornyn, R-Texas. “We have to look at our resources. . . . We’re not going to throw money into a [primary] race leading up to the election.”
Cornyn said his pledge extends to races for open Senate seats — not incumbents who may face primaries next year. The NRSC so far has endorsed candidates in four open Senate seats — Florida, Missouri, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
Cornyn’s commitment is most immediately relevant in Florida, where the NRSC’s candidate, Gov. Charlie Crist, is facing an aggressive challenge on his right from state House Speaker Marco Rubio.
This may ease some of the tension that conservatives have experienced and put an end to Cornyn’s Boss Hogg Shennanigans. He walked back the NRSC’s full out support for Charlie Crist slightly:
Cornyn had praise for Rubio, and said he’s sure that he would win the general election if he gets past Crist in the primary. Cornyn said he’s confident that — unlike in upstate New York — Republicans will settle their differences in the primary.
“The first lesson is that competitive primaries are generally a good thing,” Cornyn said. “To me, that’s the overarching lesson to be learned out of the 23rd. When 11 people get behind closed doors and pick the nominee … the grassroots are going to find an alternative.”
Cornyn said the NRSC is only endorsing in races where — like in Crist’s case — the candidate specifically requests its stamp of approval. He said that — notwithstanding any endorsements — his group would even offer advice on hiring and strategy to GOP challengers, like Rubio, who haven’t been endorsed.
Competitive primaries? What a novel idea. If there was anything that was rejected clearly in New York-23rd, it was the backroom dealing to pick candidates. If the NRSC and NRCC stay out of elections until the general election and stop wasting money trying to pick candidates, then something good may come out of this whole sordid affair in NY-23.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Good news, indeed for Rubio and others like him.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I think they should make their decision on a state by state basis. In a state like Florida where it appears that both Crist and Rubio can beat Meek then they should stay out; In a state like Delaware it probably wouldn’t hurt to endorse Congressman Castle early.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
#2:
In a state like Delaware, Congressman Castle doesn’t need the help. And if Congressman Castle does, he probably can’t win.
November 4th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
I think Huckabee has the lead:
http://twitter.com/gallupqueue/status/5439713661
November 4th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Adam you’re probably right I would prefer Christine O’Donnell myself but she’s probably not electable in that state but who knows?
November 4th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Anyone think Guiliani announces a decision for governor or Senate by say Christmas?
November 5th, 2009 at 2:23 am
Good for the national party. Let the candidates make their cases, then work with the team here. Nice to see they took some good lessons from NY-23.
I’m really looking forward to next year. Our party, and the conservative movement, I think this year has both energized us and given us some great instruction and trial runs for how to crush the Dems come next November
What we need to do now is make sure all their main initiatives fail from here on out. Let’s get a healthcare reform plan out there that avoids all the spending and government monopolization disaster that the Democrats’ one includes, increasing competition in the insurance market which directly affects the going rates for plans and thus accessibility for lower-middle-income folks, and perhaps an investment in modernized healthcare infrastructure while avoiding large government spending to little results.
Cap and trade needs to be killed – we can help the environment get away from causes of pollution by investment in nuclear power until even better technologies are available in the future.
And let’s promise to reduce deficits and spend responsibly. Following Pelosi meaningful reductions should be a walk in the park.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:37 am
“Good for the national party. Let the candidates make their cases, then work with the team here. Nice to see they took some good lessons from NY-23.” Wow, I might stand corrected yet, maybe the big boys are learning a lesson after all.
Well Adam Graham, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure that some of us are shall we say not happy with the way the party elite has handled the situation in NY-23. It does not help matters that the national party gets defensive and tell us all that we are a bunch of stupid hicks who know nothing about NY when their candidate only received 5%. Ironically, it was one of my Romneyite co-workers than told my that it was a shame that 5% of the people are stupid enough to think more of that character than Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. And yes I blame both your camp, Adam Graham and the Romneyite camp for this bloody mess in NY. However, I do take comfort that you at least see the wisdom in fair and democratic primaries where the people, not Royalty decide who govern them. I feel sorry for Mr. Romney because he seems to have an element in his camp that do not appreciate the American people and are not bothered when the people are spat upon. The problem is not Mr. Romney himself, but his supporters who are too extreme to support any anti-TARP candidate among other things. While I do not totally approve of Mr. Huckabee, I am glad that he has people like you in his camp that will fight for the people.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:24 am
You are becoming more delusional by the week Ohio Joe. I can remember when you were rational….albeit, it’s been a while.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Stay out of Kentucky Cornholer.