Is McCain On the Skids in Arizona?

Rasmussen says maybe...

Aisle-crossing, camera-hungry sucker out of touch with Republican values, Arizona voters say.

The self-styled GOP moderate and failed presidential candidate unsuccessfully relied on his reputation as a 'bipartisan' maverick who went against his party's lead, particularly on social and judicial issues, to draw independent voters. He has also drawn criticism for describing the GOP base as 'racists' over their demands for control of illegal immigration. Now he is polling just 3% above J.D. Hayworth, who has not yet even officially declared his candidacy.

Hayworth, a conservative former U.S. congressman who now is a popular radio talk show host in Phoenix, is reportedly interested in the race but has not formally declared for it. He captures 59% of the male GOP vote, while McCain wins 58% of female voters.

Younger GOP voters like Hayworth more than their elders. McCain has a solid lead among the relatively small number of moderate and liberal Republicans in the state while Hayworth picks up a plurality (48%) of conservatives. Over 61% of Arizona Republicans believe McCain has lost touch with their and the GOP's values.

Charlie Crist Trying to Heat Things Up in Florida

The Crist/Rubio match up in Florida is heating up with the arrival of new campaign manager Eric Eikenberg in the Crist camp.

Via Memeorandum, the National Journal's On Call reports that the Crist campaign is going on the offensive, challenging Rubio's "failure to advance some conservative causes while leading the state House, for spending excessively while in the Speaker's office and for dragging his feet on immigration legislation that many Republicans favored."

Eikenberg said, ""Over the last five to six months, the governor has been focused on governing and our opponent's been running around the state because he doesn't have an office," Eikenberg said.
Meanwhile, Rubio "has had five to six months of the ability to go around and say whatever he'd like, and that's now changing."

The Rubio campaign responded by requesting debates between Rubio and Crist with the first suggested date of December 17. In a letter to Eikenberg yesterday, Rubio adviser Pat Shortridge pointed out that Rubio had challenged Crist to a series of debates earlier this year, saying "At that time, Marco acknowledged the differences that exist between him and Governor Crist on issues like wasteful stimulus spending that has failed to create jobs, cap-and-trade, property tax reform, judicial appointments, property insurance and a struggling Florida economy that has seen unemployment rise to a 34-year high. Marco expressed his belief that several debates would help bring these and other differences to light. Unfortunately, Governor Crist has shown no interest in debating Marco thus far."

Rubio has closed the gap to just a 15 point lead in the latest Qunnipiac poll, down from an earlier 29 point lead. Rubio continues to pound Crist in straw polls all over the state, the most recent by the Republican Club of South Sarasota County in which Rubio tops Crist 70.2% to 16.5%.

Eikenberg formerly served for four years as chief of staff to former Republican Congressman Clay Shaw of Fort Lauderdale and has recently served as Crist's gubernatorial chief of staff. Eikenberg speaks of “Charlie Crist’s brand of common-sense conservatism," but I don't think that's the kind of conservatism we need in the Senate. I don't think Florida really thinks so, either. If common-sense conservatism means supporting Obama's Stimulus plan, for one thing, well, no thanks. Charlie's support of cap and trade is "common sense"? Nope, again.

According to The Buzz, Rubio isn't worried about the addition of Eikenberg to the Crist team. Rubio supporters point to his work on the campaigns for both Clay Shaw and George LeMieux. They both lost.

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport)

Why do some “Republicans” hate grassroots Conservatives?

Cross posted at The DaleyGator

Excuse me for asking but it does seem that a good many of the GOP establishment, including some “Conservative” columnists have a certain disdain for the average, everyday American who dare to get too acvtive in politics. The latest example comes from David Frum via Wizbang. Frum opines doom and destruction for the GOP in this piece.

The Republican fratricide in the November 3 special election in upstate New York may prove just an opening round of an even more spectacular bloodbath in Florida in 2010. In New York, Republican feuding lost the party a seat in the House of Representatives. At stake in Florida is not only a senatorship — but very possibly Republican hopes for 2012 as well.

Hmmm, I guess Frum forgets that the “Republican” rejected was a Liberal, a Liberal who ended up endorsing the Democrat? Would we really be better off with a Democrat in Republican clothing? Frum also misses the point about why Consrvatives rose up against Scozzafava and for Doug Hoffman in NY23.

We did so because we, unlike elitists like Frum, beieve in our principles. We do not believe in sacrificing our ideals just to elect an”R” who will stab us in the back, and vote along Liberal lines. But, Frum continues his scolding of the Conservatives, who are, accroding to him to stupid to know what is good for them. He is aghast that a Conservative, Marco Rubio, who is opposing Chaelie Crist for one of Florida’s senate seat is getting support from Conservatives.

But here’s the most important unasked question raised by the enthusiasm for Rubio among Washington conservatives: What alternative policy should have been adopted back in the spring, when interest rates had been cut to almost zero and the economy was still collapsing? Are vague bromides about big government anything like an adequate response to the worst economic crisis experienced by any American under age 80?

The great free-market economist Milton Friedman argued that the right policy in the 1930s was a bank rescue — but the bank bailouts (begun under a Republican president, lest we forget) are even more unpopular among conservatives than Obama’s stimulus.

A few days ago, I was talking to a roomful of young conservatives about the crisis. All agreed in denouncing both the bank bailouts done under TARP and the stimulus. I asked: OK fine, what was the alternative?

There was a short pause, and then somebody laughed: “I guess it’s lucky that we weren’t in power.”

First of all, Mr. Frum, I think your “quote? is BS! I would be surprised if you did not embellish, or even fabricate it. But, I really want to focus on your orgasmic support of the stimulus package. Are you sure Mr. Frum, that you are a Conservative? Because Conservative have principles sir. We actually believe in things like the Constitution, in the founding principles. Do you? You do know the Founders would be against this reckless spending orgy?

One more thing Mr. Frum, you are aware, I hope anyway, that Gov. Crist and Rubio are BOTH Republicans? They are both vying for the Republican nod to run against a Democrat for that crucial senate seat? Why would you seek to tell Florida Republicans that they must not have a voice in deciding WHICH Republican they nominate?

If Crist gets the nod, I am sure he will get support from Conservatives, we just happen to prefer Rubio. Why does that bother you so? Again I ask, WHY do people like you show such disgust for Conservatives who try to take a more active role in politics?

Perhaps you just think we should know our place? Just support anything with an “R” by its name? Just shut up and do what the elites tell us? Tell me how did THAT work out in 2008? Hmmmm

It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy

Via Memeorandum

Gee, it can't be a good thing when a picture of a tipped tank is used to illustrate a politician's career, but hey, in this case, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

According to FitNews.Com Sen. Lindsey Graham's popularity is tanking in South Carolina. He's not only losing the confidence of Republican voters, he's also in a freefall with the all important Independent voters. Pardon me for a moment while I snicker.

Graham served in the House from 1995 to 2003 when he moved on to the Senate. At some point during the last fourteen years he decided as an incumbent he was a) in like Flynn and as a result b) his constituents could go to Hell. Apparently, his constituents disagree.

FitNews:

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s public support is collapsing in South Carolina – driven by a wholesale revolt among the GOP electorate and a steady erosion of his support amongst independents.

Already consistently loathed by a solid third of GOP voters, Graham’s recent leftward bent – including his co-authoring of a controversial “Cap & Tax” proposal supported by President Barack Obama and liberal Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) – has him locked in a “terminal free fall,” according one prominent Republican consultant.

“A chunk of the GOP has always detested him, but in the last month a damn has broken,” said the consultant, who was granted anonymity to discuss the impact of two recent polls that were conducted in South Carolina (one allegedly by Graham’s own advisors). “More Republicans now oppose Sen. Graham than support him. Independents are also deserting him in huge numbers.”

So who is backing Graham? According to FITS, he's being back by the Truman National Security Project a liberal front group aimed at training “progressives” in their efforts to co-opt the debate over national security, which is typically one of the GOP’s bread-and-butter issues.

What a coincidence. Charlie Crist, who Graham endorsed, also has "progressive" donors. Usually, people donate to a candidate because the donor and the candidate share an ideology. Sometimes the donor expects something from the candidate in return. And, of course, sometimes the donor and the candidate share an ideology AND the donor believes that they will receive something in return. I smell RINO.

Just recently I've taken to including a small picture of pink flip flops to symbolize Crist on my posts relating to him. My bet is that Graham will be doing a flip flop of his own soon. Maybe I can find a green pair for Graham to symbolize his support for Cap & Trade.

Perfect!

Cross posted at Carol's Closet

Michael Steele Intimidates Whitey!

"I've walked into the room and some white Republicans have been scared of me."

...and Erkel mugged Bernard Goetz.

FUN FACTS ABOUT MICHAEL STEELE:

When Chuck Norris heard Michael Steele was a big fan, his dick shrank a full quarter of an inch out of sheer embarrassment.

When Sarah Palin sings karaoke, Michael Steele hits the high notes for her.

When a two-bit rapper told Michael Steele the GOP was a racist party, he forgot to mention that whole "freeing the slaves/breaking the Voting Rights Act filibuster' thing... oh, wait, that's not made up...

When Michael Steele heard about Dick Cheney's "Night of the Cougar-man" hooker rampage, he went out and bought an anime cat-girl costume.

When his Democratic senate race opponent's campaign dressed him up as a minstrel, he just took it rather than marching an angry mob on their office... oh, wait, that's not made up either.

Got any more fun facts about Michael Steele? Post them here!

UPDATE: When the Boy Scouts heard Michael Steele wanted to address this year's Jamboree, they hired back three gay scoutmasters to protect them...

Is Charlie Starting to Choke?

Josh Kraushaar at Politico says Crist is "panicking about his Florida Senate primary against Marco Rubio" and goes on to list a number of nasty nettles in the Crist campaign, the first of which is the firing by Crist of his longtime communications director Erin Isaac.

If that weren't enough to make Crist crazy, the Miami Herald Sun Sentinel has a front page story on the Scott Rothstein, one of Crist's largest financial backers, who is now in trouble with a Ponzi scheme. Robert Stacy McCain posted about that on this blog days ago.

If that weren't enough, Crist is now acting as his own press secretary:

In terms of press coverage lately, Crist has been having a bad stretch -- largely of his own doing. (The stimulus support he insists he never gave, Obama man-hug tape notwithstanding; his insistence he didn't know Obama's recent Florida itinerary; the uproar over an anti-Rubio Web site that had the participation of an RPOF paid consultant; and public floggings by former press buddies Wolf Blitzer and Chris Matthews, etc.)

Crist also lately has been acting as his own press secretary -- calling the Times' Adam Smith to set up an interview on Political Connections, and arranging the Times' recent interview in Gainesville with himself and first lady Carole Crist. The governor also recently instructed reporters to call his cell phone directly -- rather than using a "go-between" in the press office.

It's way WAY too early for a victory dance, but I'd say Charlie has some problems.

Update: Commeter spoutinghorn thankfully corrects me on the now mythic Miami Herald Sun Sentinel. I, of course, meant two different papers. I had too many windows open and not enough brain-power open. My mistake and thanks for the correction!

(H/T: Memeorandum)

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport)

Doctor, Veteran, GOP Candidate, RINO Hunter!

Primary Opponent for Gang of Eight RINO Mark Kirk!

Marco Rubio Picks Up Club For Growth Endorsement

Marco Rubio is movin' on up!

Today, he picked up an endorsement from Club for Growth. In a statement, Chris Chocola, the president of Club for Growth, said:

“Marco Rubio is the real deal, one of the brightest young stars in American politics today, and a proven champion of economic liberty. He is a dynamic spokesman for the principles of limited government and economic freedom, and he will make a fantastic senator.”

Their full statement is here. This isn't really a surprise, but it's good news nonetheless.

Another recent endorsement was from the Family Research Council Action PAC, saying “Marco Rubio has been a true friend of the family and the culture of life as a state legislator in Florida. Senators who will fight to defend the family against the radical leadership in the Senate are crucial to the future of our country." The rest of their statement is here.

The Club for Growth endorsement is huge in that it will help funnel some needed cash into the Rubio campaign. Crist has out raised Rubio so far, primarily based on name recognition, but that is starting to change.

Rubio picked up yet another straw poll this week, this one in Okaloosa, beating Crist 86 to 4.

Now that Charlie Crist is trying to claim he never endorsed the Stimulus, it's more obvious than ever who the candidate with integrity is. Florida sees it, too. As of October 21, Crist still held a 49% - 34% lead over Rubio but that's closing fast.

More at Memeorandum.

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport)

Video: Crist lies about supporting Obama's stimulus

Two unusual sources for this catch: MSNBC's Chris Matthews and Daily Kos:

Yeah, that's gonna leave a mark.

Charlie Crist's Ponzi-scheme pal

Scott Rothstein paid $52,000 to have his name emblazoned on a birthday cake for Florida Gov. Charlie Crist at a July 2008 GOP fundraiser:

"[Rothstein] spent money like it wasn't his," said one person who was there. "Now we know why."
Indeed, Rothstein’s now at the center of an alleged Ponzi scheme in which he bilked investors for what some say could be up to $1 billion. Though many in the legal community had suspected Rothstein was up to something (he couldn't have that much disposable cash legally, they said), politicians and political parties didn't ask many questions. Big checks at the very least buy gratitude and a see-no-evil attitude in politics. Rothstein's $52,000 check from his law firm was the biggest single contribution for the Republican Party of Florida fundraiser, which raised about $1 million for the party.

Q-and-A with Crist, who takes a see-no-evil stance on Rothstein's swindling. Inside Rothstein's law office:

The walls of Rothstein's office and other hallways are lined with framed photos of the lawyer with politicians including Gov. Charlie Crist, former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, U.S. Sen. John McCain and Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti.

Rothstein "raised at least $675,000 for Crist’s 2006 gubernatorial campaign and donated close to $80,000 during the first 50 days of Crist’s U.S. Senate campaign," Judicial Watch reports, noting that two other major Crist contributors have also recently been indicted:

A few months ago, south Florida ophthalmologist Alan Mendelsohn, a prolific fundraiser and political power broker, was charged with fraudulently using money from political action committees to pay for a mistress’s love nest, a luxury car for himself and his children’s education. Mendelsohn was so tight with Crist, a former Florida attorney general, that the governor gave him a spot on his coveted gubernatorial transition team in 2006.
In February a Jordanian businessman (Ala'a al-Ali) was indicted for making tens of thousands of dollars in illegal contributions to various political candidates, including Crist, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Arizona Senator John McCain. Ali, who lives in the Dominican Republic, circumvented federal limits on individual contributions as well as a ban on foreign donations by using bogus donors that he later reimbursed. . . .

Read the whole thing.

It's a Hoffman Victory After All

Well it seems it's a victory for Doug Hoffman after all, but not in the way he intended. While he isn't going to Congress (this year), he has gotten the attention of the NRSC. ABC News reports that John Cornyn got the message loud and clear:

"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.

Ed at Hot Air is willing to give credit where credit is due:

We understand that the role of the national party and the NRSC and NRCC is to elect Republicans. However, that role comes into play in the general election, not the primaries. A party that talks abut federalism and limited national government should have more trust in the people to choose their representatives in the primaries. Cornyn and the NRSC have taken a circuitous route to the right decision, but at least they got there.

That's fine - I'm all for optimism. Just color me a little cynical. I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not clear on how this statement is going to play with the Crist/Rubio duel. The NRSC has already endorsed Crist and I can't see them yanking support now. While Cornyn makes light of endorsements in general, he indicates that the only reason the NRSC endorsed Crist was because Crist asked them too:

Cornyn said the NRSC is only endorsing in races where -- like in Crist's case -- the candidate specifically requests its stamp of approval.

So if Rubio had asked first....?

I hope the Republican establishment has learned something, I really do. The fact remains that as a party Republicans still have to come together and decide how big this tent is going to be. You can't abandon your principles just to stack the deck in your favor. And to my mind, there is still no strong Reagan conservative to lead us out of this mess, although there is still time for one to emerge.

But, for now, I'll take Cornyn's words to heart and I'll send Doug Hoffman a thank-you check. He was brave, honest, and he woke up the NRSC. That's the kind of guy I can get behind!

(More at Memeorandum)

Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport

Are You Listening Now?

While you're watching election results come in tonight, take a minute and read Paul Ibrahim's column at The North Star National. An excerpt:

No one’s life is a waste,” a colleague wrote me in reaction to Dede Scozzafava’s withdrawal from the NY-23 congressional election. “You can always serve as a bad example.”

While we can certainly agree with this statement, it is about time we ask, how many bad examples does the Republican establishment need before it learns its lesson?

In 2004, strong support from the Republican establishment allowed liberal senator Arlen Specter to survive a Republican primary challenge from conservative congressman Pat Toomey by a minuscule margin.

Ibrahim goes on to outline just exactly why so many are fed up with the Republican establishment. Dede Scozzafava was just the latest example. He closes with this line:

Thus, until the Republican establishment truly gets it – and it might take a long time – conservatives must unite in pledging not one more cent to the Republican Party. There is no sense in subsidizing a permanent Republican minority – and one that isn’t even true to its principles.

I couldn't agree more.

H/T: Hot Air

NY-23 Conference Call

After participating in the conference call tonight hosted by the American Conservative Union's PAC to discuss NY-23 it seems to me that the biggest concern for Doug Hoffman now might be getting a fair election. Hoffman's campaign feels the momentum of the past couple of days but this election is by no means in the bag.

Rob Ryan, spokesman for the Hoffman campaign, said that what they need more than anything "is bodies." He expressed concern about "the amount of people coming in" for the Owens campaign, specifically ACORN and the WFP. The WFP is already under investigation in New York for forging absentee ballots and this is something that the Hoffman campaign wants to be sure doesn't happen in NY-23. As Ryan said tonight, "We want a clean, legal election because if that's the case, we win."

To that end, they need volunteers. Ryan asks that if you're in the area and able to help, get in touch with the Hoffman campaign and do what you can. Here is the list of campaign offices (in pdf). Stacy McCain described the 23rd district as "huge; it's the largest congressional district east of the Mississippi River." It's a gerrymandered district and covers a large, oddly shaped territory, mostly suburban. Watertown is probably the largest city in the district with about 40,000 people.

What Stacy McCain hears from voters in the district are concerns about out of control spending and the cost of Obamacare. He says "Hoffman is widely respected by those who know him" despite the fact that he's not an affable or charismatic kind of guy. He's not your typical Washington politician. He's honest and hard working and has genuine concern for the district and the country.

I asked Stacy what the expected turnout for this election is likely to be. As a special election in an off year, you would normally expect turnout to be low. In a sense, this may work to Hoffman's advantage because those that do get out to vote will be those hard-core people that follow the issues. Those moderate, indifferent voters may not turn out. The Democrats have been advertising very heavily in the district, however, and their on-the-ground canvassing is very strong.

This is why volunteers are needed. Even though the RNC and the NRCC are sending resources Hoffman's way, the election is only two days out. If you live anywhere near the area, or know someone who does, the Hoffman campaign needs you.

Matt Burns, former spokesman for Dede Scozzafava, now supporting Hoffman, says that the main thing at this point is to elect someone who will stand up to the aggressive agenda of Nancy Pelosi, and Doug Hoffman is that candidate.

Related:
Jimmie Bise was in on the call and his impressions are here.
Ed Morressey's thoughts are here.

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport)

The Other McCain: NY23: Rumors swirlConfirmed

The Other McCain: NY23: Rumors swirlConfirmed

Here's a question no one's asking yet: "How many MORE of these Democrats-in-mufti have the bumbling apparatchiks of the RNC, NRCC and NRSC ALREADY put in office elsewhere?"

Hoffman sends out call for help

Donald Douglas has word from the Hoffman camp that they are needing canvassers.

Just got this in my in-box from folks working with the Doug Hoffman campaign:


Hoffman's biggest need now is volunteers. (1) Nothing is written in stone yet, (2) the margin of victory will determine how hard the losing side fights next year, and (3) in a special election, turnout is everything. They just need people to show up at their campaign offices. It would be terrific if you'd help spread the word.
The link to the campaign locations page is here:
OK, there you go, keep fighting!

A final slap in the face of the Newtists!

Pat Austin beat me to this news, but, hey, a guy HAS to go grocery shopping sometime doesn't he? Pat writes that, not surprisingly, Dede Scozzafava is "quietly" endorsing Democrat Bill Owens.

First, in a Watertown Daily Times' editorial switching its endorsement from Scozzafava to atty Bill Owens (D), the Daily Times notes that Scozzafava "began to quietly and thoughtfully encourage her supporters to vote for" Owens after her withdrawal announcement 10/31.

What a slap in the face of the Newtists the ultimate masters of diminished expectations. The Big Tent GOP idealists insisted that the only way the GOP could ever hope to regain a majority in the House was to reach out and cuddle with Liberal Republicans like Scozzafava. My contention, although not from a political genius like Newt, was that the Scozzafava-type Republican would vote WITH Democrats, thus rendering our "majority" impotent. Well, Newt, looks like I and the others backing Hoffman were right.

We were optimistic, as Conservatives usually are, and believed that the Conservative message would triumph over the Liberal message. We rejected the diminished expectations and the "hold your nose" and vote for whoever the party elites tell you mentality. In other words, we believed in our PRINCIPLES. The GOP leadership should listen and learn. The time for sacrificing our ideals on the altar of "Meghan McCain Republicanism" is over! It failed, it failed because it has no principles, it has no soul. It is lacking substance. It isn't about standing for the Constitution and the ideals of the Founders. It is about none of that. Rather, I have come to believe it is about keeping the "elites" in place, and the people who ARE the GOP, content with diminished expectations!

NY-23: Is Dede Endorsing Hoffman or Owens?

Via Hot Air, Hotline reports that Dede Scozzafava and her husband are quietly endorsing Bill Owens in the NY-23 race. This comes as no real shock as they disagree on absolutely nothing with regard to policy issues.

Hotline quotes both the New York Post and the Watertown Daily Times:

First, in a Watertown Daily Times' editorial switching its endorsement from Scozzafava to atty Bill Owens (D), the Daily Times notes that Scozzafava "began to quietly and thoughtfully encourage her supporters to vote for" Owens after her withdrawal announcement 10/31.

And, according to the New York Post, Scozzafava's husband -- Central Labor Council pres. Ron McDougall -- wholeheartedly endorsed Owens late last p.m. McDougall: "As a life-long labor activist, I know that Bill Owens understands the issues important to working people. On the other hand, Doug Hoffman has little regard for the interests of workers. Hoffman's opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, coupled with his support for the failed policies of the Bush Administration make him a poor choice to serve the citizens of the 23rd Congressional District."

Stacy McCain is still on scene in upstate New York and also notes the Watertown Times story:

The Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times -- which previously endorsed Scozzafava -- stirred the pot this morning with an editorial backing Democrat Bill Owens and claiming that this was also Scozzafava's agenda.

I don't think in the end that Dede's recommendation is going to be a game changer. The bigger picture here, to me, is her nomination in the first place. That the Republican establishment ever thought she was a viable candidate for that district is the real issue. She is not distinguishable from the Democrat in any significant way. Why did the RNC think this boat would float?

Stacy McCain phoned me from Watertown a couple of nights ago and,pointed me to this TCOT Report story by Michael Patrick Leahy about Dede's selection process:

Scozzafava was nominated on July 22 at a meeting of the eleven county chairmen. Prior to this meeting, a series of four regional meetings were held throughout the district, at which time nine candidates were given a chance to appear in front of a select group of Republican committeemen and State Party Officials. Many conservative Republicans in the 23rd Congressional District were insulted by the Speaker's blatant mischaracterization that Scozzafava was the "unanimous" choice of the four regional meetings that preceded the nominee selection meeting held on July 22. Contrary to the Speaker's assertions, Scozzafava received a majority of the support in only one of these four meetings.

She never had the local support the NRCC contended. Leahy asked Fulton County Republican County Chairman Susan McNeil if there was any support at all for Dede in Fulton County. McNeil's response? "In all of the calls I have received there is no support for Dede."

In fact, most of the support was for conservative Paul Maroun.

In other words, not unlike what they've done in the Florida Senate race between Rubio and Crist, the RNC inserted themselves into a local race because they thought they knew better than the locals what was good for them. In the Florida case, that's a primary race and the NRSC should have held off until Florida picked their own Republican candidate.

In the case of NY-23, the RNC should have listened to the locals. The fact that Dede and her big-labor husband are now coming out, however quietly, for the Democrat just shows that she is solidly a RINO and had no business representing the conservatives of that district.

The people of the district will speak on Tuesday and it's still not a "done deal" for Hoffman. He needs financial support and volunteers. But most of all, the RNC needs to listen to the conservative base. It's time to close ranks and come together as a party under the conservative principles that used to define us. No more RINOs!

(Cross posted at And So it Goes in Shreveport)