NRCC Responds To DCCC Statements on Snyder’s Retirement
This morning I spoke with Andy Sere, Regional Press Secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, who had some response to the comments Jon Vogel from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee made on Blake Rutherford’s show on Sunday.
“I don’t care what anyone says – unless an incumbent is under federal indictment, it is nearly always easier to win an open seat than to beat an incumbent,” said Sere in reply to charge that Democrats may benefit from Snyder’s retirement. “Voters may have been extremely dissatisfied with the Obama-Pelosi agenda and Snyder’s lockstep support of it, but they still liked him a great deal personally and that gave him a fighting chance to hang on. Instead, the Democrats will now put forth a candidate who is just as out-of-touch on the issues but who lacks the reservoir of good will Snyder retained.”
“The Democrats’ spin that Snyder’s retirement improves their chances here is little more than desperate spin – we are now favored to take this seat,” continued Sere.
He also had a tough assessment for the potential field I listed who he says “are a diverse collection of Pelosi rubber stamps.”
“Looking at the five names you mentioned as most likely to run, there’s not a single person whose values match those of central Arkansans’,” said Sere. “Bill Halter is a limousine (ultra-)liberal who is widely known as the most shamelessly opportunistic person in Arkansas; Robbie Wills is the consummate backroom pol who would bring a host of ethical issues to the race; Shane Broadway never met a tax hike he didn’t like; Joyce Elliott could be intriguing as the only female in the field, but she’s nearly as left-wing as Halter; and Paul Suskie has been feeding from the government trough his whole life, having never once held a job in the private sector (and he’ll face serious questions about some of his actions in the public sector). Their field is unsurprisingly deep when it comes to quantity, but it’s exceedingly shallow in regards to quality.”
Tough words. I do agree with Sere that the Democrats would be wise to find a more moderate Democrat who can appeal to the Conservative Democrat line that has served them well in the place; however, I am not sure I would write off the ability of any of the these five to fit that bill.
As for the charges made that Griffin committed voter suppression and is a handpicked Washington insider, he says this is nonsense. “We did not recruit Tim Griffin, and in fact, we didn’t take much of an interest in this race until Griffin proved that he was a formidable challenger to Snyder by quickly attracting loads of local support,” said Sere. “We highlight the achievements of strong candidates; it’s up to Arkansas Republicans to pick their nominee.”
As I said previously, I will have a sit down interview later this week with Griffin and will ask him about all of this and more. Stayed tuned for his response.
Tags: 2010 Candidates
January 18th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
[...] II: The NRCC responds to comments made during the [...]
January 18th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
“As for the charges made that Griffin committed voter suppression and is a handpicked Washington insider, he says this is nonsense. “We did not recruit Tim Griffin, and in fact, we didn’t take much of an interest in this race until Griffin proved that he was a formidable challenger to Snyder by quickly attracting loads of local support,” said Sere. “We highlight the achievements of strong candidates; it’s up to Arkansas Republicans to pick their nominee.”
Liar. The Griffin candidacy was inside job from the NRCC and RNC from the start. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. Tim is a good candidate and will most likely win in November, but I can’t stand blatant dishonesty that comes from DC.
January 18th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Have to disagree with Nikki. There was another candidate, who ended up not getting in the race, opening the door for Griffin (and others).
That Griffin took advantage, raised money, and rose to the top so quickly speaks much more of him, personally, than anyone else.
And NO ONE on our side expected Snyder to leave the race … after a poll showed him trailing Tim Griffin by 17 points last week. You do have to credit Griffin for that polling “victory.”
January 19th, 2010 at 1:01 am
Here are some things to consider.
1) the National Republican Congressional Committee kicked out a late Friday afternoon press release as follows:
Tim Griffin has been running an extraordinary campaign fueled by strong local support that forced a 13-year incumbent into retirement one year after he faced no Republican opposition. Whomever the Democrats nominate as their sacrificial lamb will be facing a formidable candidate in Griffin and running in a state that has proved to be ground-zero for fever-pitch opposition to the Obama-Pelosi agenda – and any hapless Democrat who seeks to advance that agenda in Washington.
There is no mention of other candidates – announced or would-be – in that statement.
From: http://www.talkbusiness.net/Weblogs/WeblogItemDetail.aspx?WebLogItemID=9570e543-c1d9-4286-ac32-0baf1214a93a&WeblogID=cc24fc6b-d9a7-4647-b991-53b1cec2eec4
2) DCCC Jon Vogel says “I think the Republicans in Washington have handpicked Tim Griffin,” said Vogel. To which Tim (or campaign staffer) responds via tweet: @griffincongress Tim: Havent been handpicked for anything I haven’t earned. Listen in: http://tr.im/KFpZ #tcot #ar02 #NRCC
3) From CQ politics: Snyder had faced a threatening challenge from a highly touted Republican candidate recruit, former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin.
From Politico: Republicans have landed a well-regarded recruit in former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin, who already has more money in his campaign account than the congressman.
Then notice this article: http://www.nrcc.org/news/read.aspx?id=822
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.), fresh off a recruiting trip to four states with lead National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) recruiter Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). The hope is that an environment shift can deliver them extra seats. And candidates are starting to join the cause.
West Virginia state Sen. Clark Barnes became the latest over the weekend when he signed up to run against Mollohan (D-W.Va.). Former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin jumped into the race against Rep. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.) a week ago. And, in between, Missouri state Sen. Bill Stouffer became the second formidable candidate to run against Skelton (D-Mo.).
Let’s let the facts speak for themselves and let the people of the 2nd District decide not the Washington establishment.
David
January 19th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Finding winning candidates is their job!! Pull out already
January 19th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Let the best Republican nominee win and if it’s Tim Griffin then fantastic, but to suggest that the NRCC and the RNC didn’t recruit him is either naive or disingenuous.
January 19th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
It is sad this even needs to be said but why does this always sound like the kid who gets cut from the football team because he can’t throw the passes for touchdowns and then complains about how football is played. It is what it is, and the process will bare that truth fairly quickly.
Stop whining and go raise some money, put out endorsements, put out policy statements on where you stand. Plain and simple.
These ancillary arguments are just a waste of time and insulting to intelligent voters who are looking for real solutions not ego driven statements about who is more Arkansas Red on the inside.
January 19th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
“Let’s let the facts speak for themselves and let the people of the 2nd District decide not the Washington establishment.”
So then who responded in the poll that Firedoglake had issued? Washington? IIRC it WAS the 2nd District voters. Whoops, maybe it wasn’t those facts we were talking about…
January 19th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
GBP, Meeks is simply talking about how the RNC has ignored the other two candidates and crowned Griffen the candidate. I have long thought that this republican establishment bit was a farce. I am starting to wonder given the content of the press release.
January 20th, 2010 at 12:41 am
Grow up,
I have hired a consulting firm to help me raise funds and organize my campaign. If you join my facebook page or twitter you will have no doubt as to where I stand.
As I said over in the other blog post, there are a percentage of the people who think that having ties to Washington is an issue. If the NRCC has chosen Griffin and and wants to back him then fine. Just be honest about it and stop trying to sidestep it or deny it.
GBP,
All the Firedoglake poll showed was proof of what I have been hearing as I travel around the district, “Anyone but Vic”. As far as I know, no one has done a poll with us head to head.
I do know that Public Policy Polling did put out a poll in November showing Griffin down by 1 and me down by 3 to Snyder. However, I had lesser name recognition.
David
January 20th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
[...] third candidate in the race David Meeks was not on the show but also commented on this debate in the comment section of another thread who posted links to national publications that praise Griffin and were pushed out [...]