Posted on 12/24/2010 6:12:18 PM PST by neverdem
WASHINGTON — Senator Scott Brown’s decision to buck his party leadership in recent days on the “don’t ask, don’t tell’’ military policy and on a nuclear arms treaty has set off a new wave of anger among some of the activists who helped elect him — and renewed talk among conservatives that he might face a primary challenge.
Tweet 1diggdiggYahoo! Buzz ShareThis Some Tea Party movement leaders who dislike Brown’s votes acknowledge that the Massachusetts Republican has demonstrated his independent and pragmatic streak, and by doing so may strengthen his chances at reelection in 2012. No primary challenger has emerged, and it is unclear whether a newcomer could wage a serious fight against Brown and his $6.8 million war chest.
But the threat of a primary challenge from conservatives — as well as the potential that national Tea Party groups will withhold financial support — appears to have grown, according to the movement’s activists. Brown’s votes in the past week follow his crucial support for the overhaul of financial regulations, which remains a particular sore point with conservatives.
“I think that there will be a primary challenge,’’ said Christen Varley, president of the Greater Boston Tea Party. “There’s enough of an underground movement in the Tea Party movement as seeing him as not being conservative enough. There probably will be multiple people who attempt to run against him.’’
Varley said it is too early to name a possible opponent, and she acknowledged that Brown’s campaign war chest and statewide organization would probably be enough to fend off an opponent. But if Brown has to devote energy and resources to a primary campaign, it could put him at a greater disadvantage in a general election in which...
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"Would I do it again for Scott Brown?" she said. "Probably not."...
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
There’s only one other Republican left in Taxachusetts, so who’s gonna’ run in the primary against him?
Bye-bye Scottie...you made some seriously bad choices
The GOP can forget this seat. The Dems will take it back in 2012.
Masswholechewsus-—nothing good goes to DC from that liberal bastion of know-it-alls. Scott Brown was either a fraud or switched his allegience leftwards. Hope the truck driving shoe salesman (Al Bundy) gets the boot. Might as well have a bonafide Rat in DC instead of one is disguise.
seriously bad
Might as well challenge him, he’s not going to be reelected in Mass and neither will any Tea Party challenger. Getting that seat back is the no. 1 priority for Dems in 2012 and Mass voters will give it to them.
Brown is a major disappointment. I thought he might be trouble early on when he said we needed health care reform, just not the kind Obama wanted. He didn’t get it — we didn’t need ANY kind of health care reform.
FUSB and your treasonous RINO streak!!
Of course the NRSC will contribute millions to this RINO’s campaign, trying to defend a seat he has a hard chance of winning.
Scott was an aberration and has served his only useful purpose.
It's Massachusetts for crying out loud.
independent streak always have to mean voting liberal?
Great, then get rid of him in the primary and make it loud and proud that an honest dem is better then a false republican.
Probably. The Tea party can help elect him but I think a more conservative candidate is a pretty tough hill to climb. I’m glad I don’t have to make the choice.
Scott Brown should join the Democratic Party.
Where ALL good liberals dwell.
Exactly. I prefer in-your-face LIBS in pelosi and Reid because you know what to expect.
In RINOS like Brown, Snowe and Collins, Gawd just leave the GOP. I feel really bad for those Tea Party groups in Boston who supported this imbecile in the run-off.
That is why nobody here donates to the RNC.
Occasionally I get an email from SB requesting my support. Next time I will tell him to go to Putin.
That's the definition of "oxymoron." There ain't no such critter.
that or tolerate the rino tendencies just to deny that seat, the peoples seat, as he so aptly stated, deny that seat from the democrats.. i’m as far to the right as they come, but lets not let perfect be the archenemy of the good. ideological purity is important, but i draw the line when it comes to prospects for maintaining control of senate seats, and laying the groundwork for a complete takeover of the senate in 2012....
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