Yes, ditch ‘em all the way down to the state and local level. Dan Patrick, who won the runoff for Texas Lt. Gov has a crap consultant named Allen Blakemore who did Patrick no favors. Michael Berry, on his radio show, emphasized the way consultants exert malevolent influence long after the campaign is over and far into the politician’s term. Berry was sincerely worried about the injection of Blakemore into the most powerful office of Texas, which is probably similar to how Ted Cruz feels about Karl Rove and company on the national stage.