Top GOP Challengers Pass Conservative Litmus Test

[ccharles000]

The National Republican Congressional Committee learned from defeat in the chaotic special election in New York and quickly moved to make sure its 2010 recruits pass muster with conservative groups.

“As a result of New York District 23, the level of coordination has gone up — in terms of everyone knows what everyone else is doing,” Grover Norquist, who heads Americans for Tax Reform, said Friday.

Democrat Bill Owens won an open New York seat in Congress Nov. 3 that had been in Republican hands. The campaign exposed the seriousness of divisions within the Republican Party; Dede Scozzafava, the moderate state assemblywoman backed by the GOP establishment, was attacked from the right, and third-party candidate Doug Hoffman benefited from resources and advertising support that poured in from disgruntled conservatives.

The NRCC, which is in charge of recuiting and backing candidates for the House, invited about 20 conservative groups to its headquarters this week to find out if any of their top recruits is in danger of a similar fate in 2010. The gathering was a fence-mending step, according to Norquist, because it showed the NRCC understands the importance of keeping conservatives in the loop.

A full list of attendees at the meeting could not be confirmed. Norquist — who was not there but sent his chief of staff — said more than 40 House challengers were discussed, generally the top- and second-tier list of candidates.

House Republicans, who are 41 seats short of a majority, believe they have an excellent chance next year to wrest control of the House back from the Democrats — or at least come close. They also know that to make serious gains, they need to avoid intraparty skirmishes over candidates and their conservative credentials.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000003248049

[Baltoman991]

1. I'm still not

understanding how Republicans can be this positive about gains. I mean, I see polls showing they're as popular as George Bush himself was so what gives?

I'm a betting man and short of election fruad, I'm wagering the Republicans don't even come close to taking back the House. Matter of fact, I might even wager that they'll lose a few more seeing as how the past few special elections have gone.

[opihimoimoi]

2. Yup. the MesoGOPiacs are stuck in the MIDDLE AGES MODE...slash and burn

Lie cheat steal plunder rape distort twist connive scam fool exploit

[Vincardog]

3. It all really depends on We THE PEOPLE, what we believe they are doing (or trying to do) for us, and

If we can get a fair accurate count of our votes.

[Imajika]

4. They don't need to be popular...

In 2010 they will be running against President Obama and the Democrats. They don't need to be loved, particularly liked or even have any serious agenda - they can win if enough people are mad at us. They just want to represent opposition to Obama and the Democrats, a vote for them is vote registering disapproval of what the Democratic Party has done since it acquired the Legislative and Executive branches of government. That is all.

People need to stop being so naive. Pointing to polls of GOP approval at 25% means nothing. The Republicans have no power, they can't actually do anything, and their own party is badly fractured at the moment so ofcourse their numbers will appear bad. None of that matters at all, people tend to vote in off year elections to express dissatisfaction with the party in power. If our voters don't turn out, as evidenced by what happened in VA and NJ, and voters who are mad at the Democrats do, then the Republicans will do quite well. Were the congressional elections held today, I'd guess the GOP would win 15-20 seats, and it could be worse by November 2010 when it actually counts. We probably won't lose the House, but if unemployment is still over 10% come next November - look out, because we could.

[Kdillard]

6. I agree.

[Baltoman991]

7. I'm far from

naive.

If the American people are stupid enough to allow those back in charge who caused this mess then so be it. My point is Republicans out there tooting their own horns like it will be because of how wonderful their party is as why they'll regain control and thats just pure BS. They're a hated party right now but I know how we, the people of this country can be sometimes and in 2010, they may see that voting Republican is actually voting the lesser of two evils and heaven help us all if that happens.

[Tippy]

5. Litmus Test...Watch the teabaggers go nuts over this one...

RNC may end up wishing they had never heard of teabaggers.....