[Mr. Silverback]

But Newt is right that going the third party route is the way to screw yourself.

In general, yes. In at least 95% of elections featuring a RINO, the RINO is still the conservative vote because the Dem is well to his left.

That's not the case in this election. Scozzafava is to Bill Owens' left on a number of issues. Moreover, sitting on Planned Parenthood's board, receiving the Margaret Sanger award, getting the endorsement of the Daily Kos and being associated with ACORN should each by itself repel RNC dollars and public support the way garlic repels vampires, but Steele and (especially) Gingrich have doubled down instead.

[Servant of the Cross]

I think this is at least a QUINtuple down since he already "tripled-downed" on October 22.

[ellery]

Don’t forget Sessions and Boehner. Apparently they are not only pouring massive new money into DeDe’s campaign in these last days, but also have her campaign HQ fully staffed with their own National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) people, making calls, going door-to-door, etc.

Sessions and Boehner (and the rest of the NRCC executive committee) are even more culpable here than Gingrich and Steele—they’re the ones keeping Dede together behind the scenes.