NYT: In Final Weeks, G.O.P. Focuses on Best Bets (Repugs panicking!)

[grytpype]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/16/us/politics/16spend.html

In Final Weeks, G.O.P. Focuses on Best Bets
By ADAM NAGOURNEY

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 — Senior Republican leaders have concluded that Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio, a pivotal state in this year’s fierce midterm election battles, is likely to be heading for defeat and are moving to reduce financial support for his race and divert party money to other embattled Republican senators, party officials said.

The decision to effectively write off Mr. DeWine’s seat, after a series of internal Republican polls showed him falling behind his Democratic challenger, is part of a fluid series of choices by top leaders in both parties as they set the strategic framework of the campaign’s final three weeks, signaling, by where they are spending television money and other resources, the Senate and House races where they believe they have the best chances of success.

Republicans are now pinning their hopes of holding the Senate on three states — Missouri, Tennessee and, with Ohio off the table, probably Virginia — while trying to hold on to the House by pouring money into districts where Republicans have a strong historical or registration advantage, party officials said Sunday. Republicans also said they would run advertisements in New Jersey this week to test the vulnerability of Senator Robert Menendez, one of the few Democrats who appear endangered.

Senior national Republican strategists who had been briefed on decisions made during the party’s internal deliberations discussed the overall strategic thrusts but declined to provide specific dollar figures, saying that would give too much information to the Democrats.

The decision involving Mr. DeWine offers the most compelling evidence so far that Republicans are circling their wagons around a smaller group of races, effectively conceding some Senate and House seats with the goal of retaining at least a thin margin of control when the 110th Congress is seated next January. Democrats need to win 6 seats to capture the Senate and 15 seats to win the House on Nov. 7.

(much more at article)

[Monkeyman]

1. You should see the new ads all bull crap

[Ediacara]

2. Anything to get that screaming lunatic Burns off of my TV....

[bluestateguy]

3. Oh. It's an Adam Nagourney article.

which means it goes straight into the trash can.

[SharonAnn]

4. Thank goodness. He used to be my Representative when I lived

near Dayton, Ohio.

I couldn't stand his right-wing anti-choice drivel back then. And he got much worse later.

[badgerpup]

5. Here's an image...

Anybody remember that pic of a sleigh being chased through the woods by a pack of starving vicious slavering wolves?
Some of the people are getting thrown off the back so as to give the wolves something to eat so the rest of the party can get away.

Republicans do so approve of 'sacrifice'...just as long as it's someone ELSE who's stretched out on the altar ready for the knife making it.

[C_U_L8R]

6. Now it starts getting good

With no bucks from headquarters to keep em in line...
the republicans are gonna start gnawing each other's faces off

gotta get more pop for this

[NewJeffCT]

7. It's big news if they're really dropping DeWine

Most of the polls I've seen are fairly close, with Brown having a small lead.

[turbo_satan]

8. Or it could be as simple as this...

...No need to spend money in Ohio when they've already "gotten that situation under control." If I'm not mistaken, Ken Blackwell will be overseeing that election and Ohio is Diebold country, no?

[rg302200]

42. Diebold will not be an issue this year...

Blackwell is going down in defeat, Brown almost has a double digit lead and the Democrats are polling ahead in three major congressional races in the state. This is all due to the fact that Ken Blackwell won the GOP primary against Petro. There are a lot of Republicans who are crossing over to vote for Strickland and many other Democrats this year...trust me when I say Ohio will turn blue in November.

[VP505]

9. Brown better win

after helping to throw Hackett under the bus.

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. Aaaaaaahhh shaaaaaadddup

[Deep13]

28. here, here.

[spag68]

10. Rethug money

This stuff puzzles me. I have read so many times that they have some astronomical amount of money to spend, so why this moving money around???

[aquart]

21. No more Abramoff.

No more of the congressman in California who funneled taxpayer money into phoney defense contracts which were was then kicked back to the Republican Party.

[Spiffarino]

11. The fix is probably in

It's all over but the counting and Blackwell will do the counting.

Let's keep up the pressure and help Sherrod Brown win in a landslide because if it's close enough to steal, they'll steal it.

[rpannier]

12. I'm going to help them.

Indiana Senate Race.
Richard Lugar is a good one to put money into.
Lots and lots of money into.

[Botany]

14. This Hugh .... i'm series

because MO, TN, & VA all have a good chance of going dem too.

Now if we can just get that shit Joe L.

But I am from OH and this awesome!

Subpoena power anybody?

[MCMetal]

15. "Best Bets" ? Is this Vegas ?

G.O.P. Focuses on Best Bets

How about the Best Bet for the US to recover from almost 6 years of incompetence , ineptitude and downright retarded monkeys is the immediate resignation of this entire administration .....

[Binka]

27. These Clods Treat Everything As A Frat Prank

A bunch of over grown punk ass' goofing around at Clown College. I am so sick of the sophomoric BULLSHIT. Put the fecking adults back in charge please!

I see you've been here awhile McMetal I hope you'll post more!:toast:

[femrap]

32. You're right, Botany!

It's all about the Subpoena Power!

We have to impeach * just so the World understands that he did not speak for America.

[NEOBuckeye]

16. Don't believe the Hype

It's too close for comfort right now, and with a slimy thug like J. Ken Blackwell counting the votes in Ohio, you can only be sure that he will find some way to once again fuck up something critically important to the future of this country.

We should be fighting like we're at least 10 points behind.

Sherrod Brown needs all the backing and support from us down the stretch that he can get. Another six years of Milquetoast Mike DeWine would be both unbearable and devestating.

[cmd]

17. You have that right

I won't stop until 7:30 on November 7th. I thought Kerry was a sure thing.
Boy was I wrong.

[Doremus]

29. Don't quit at 7:30 -- after the polls close go to your county BOE

and stand vigil for Democracy.

Instead of watching Wolf in the situation room regurgitating manipulated election returns, pass the word to meet up outside the board of elections.

It won't make them stop the vote stealing, but they'll know WE KNOW. Plus standing up for Democracy feels good.

:patriot: SPREAD THE WORD! :patriot:

[cmd]

30. Good try

But I'm already committed to organizing the election party. Just not enough time on election day for everything.

[femrap]

33. Good Idea!

I don't believe a thing the repugnants say. I did read yesterday that Dewhine has $13.2 million on hand and Sherrod had about half that, I think. So, if possible, let's dig deeper and send some Good Wishes to Sherrod. OK?

He's gonna make a fabulous Senator!

[Joe Bacon]

18. More lies from Ad Nags

You can bet that if Ad Nags stenos it, it's a lie!

[Dover]

19. And I suppose they'll try to sell it as a close race again......sheesh.

IMO, the Reps NEVER had a majority or anything close to it. Smoke and mirrors.

[Robbien]

20. I don't understand why they are dumping alot of money into

Melissa Bean's race in Illinois. While Bean is at the top of my list of least liked Democratic Representatives, she polls very well in her district. She has a very comfortable double digit lead over McSweeney.

The RNC ads are all about immigration and national security. Dumb idea. Bean's views on immigration and national security are very close to the RNC's. The RNC has been running enough anti-Bean ads here to choke a horse and are being so stupid about the focus of the attacks.

[samsingh]

22. withdrawal from key races will make them easier to win for us.

and causes a ripple effect.

[Divine Discontent]

23. one cannot help but remain concerned that the FIX is in, in Ohio!

They did it on 04, with booths to vote being HEAVILY given to repub districts and few to dems, causing this ----


when repub areas saw this when they walked up to their location ----




No need to put money where you've done everything possible to have programs count votes for Brown occasionaly as a vote for DeWine instead! Democrat leadership should spend half their effort in Ohio since Blackwell's in charge there! And split most of the rest between VA, TN, and MO!


www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- antibush prodem stickers/shirts

[truthisfreedom]

24. the ferocious negative ads coming from these thugs are turning off voters

in droves. their base is going to sit at home and fret on election day. mark my words.

[liberal N proud]

25. They put out reports that they are abandoning these campaigns, BUT...

What is Rove up to in each of these districts??????


Dewine adds: "I'm Mike Dewine and I approve of this slime"
He might as well be saying that because that is in fact what he is approving.

[Demeter]

26. There's Going to Be Blood in the Water

and while it's not clear whose blood it will be, I know which side I'm rooting for.

The panic attacks are entertaining, at least.

[BigDDem]

31. Best bet?

Who's the decider? Bill Bennett?

[nasher]

34. Ford has got the momentum in TN.

I don't think their money can stop it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. In MO, the repuke seems to be backing down

Polls last week showed the Dem was 9 points ahead. The repuke canceled weekend appearances in African American urban areas.

It's looking good. :)

[civildisoBDence]

36. Good money after bad

How much money would it take to make George "Hillbilly Bear" Allen look electable?

Newsprism

[OhioChick]

37. Report Suggests GOP Shifting Money From DeWine Campaign

Local GOP Leaders Call Newspaper Report 'Inaccurate'

POSTED: 5:15 pm EDT October 16, 2006
UPDATED: 5:36 pm EDT October 16, 2006

CLEVELAND -- The winner of a heated Ohio Senate race could tip the balance of power in Congress, but a new report is suggesting that one of the two men in the running is losing support from his own party.

In one of the most important competitive and contentious races in the country, Republican Sen. Mike DeWine and Democratic challenger Rep. Sherrod Brown openly show contempt for one another.

Now in the final round of the political fight, a New York Times report suggests the GOP may be ready to throw in the towel, NewsChannel5 reported.

Citing unnamed Republican Party sources, the article said GOP polls show DeWine trailing Brown. So the party is shifting money for the incumbent's campaign to Republican candidates in more competitive races.
http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/10089823/detail.html

[liberal N proud]

38. Fingers crossed here that these reports are true!

Maybe the Dewine slime will stop on the TV!

I am tired of hearing I'm Mike Dewine and I approve of this slime shit every time I turn on the tube.

[rockymountaindem]

39. The fix is in!!! Oh noes!!11

:sarcasm:

[Dr.Phool]

40. The bad news is........

DeWhine has about $12 million in the bank vs Browns $3 million.

However, the Brown campaign said it's total is low(cash on hand) because they've already made all of their media buys, so the difference is negligible.

[rodeodance]

41. jim Lehrer news Hour talked of this tonight.