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Rove: The GOP Sets Its Sights on the Senate in 2014 (original)
Wall Street Journal ^ | May 1, 2013 | Karl Rove

Posted on 05/03/2013 2:21:47 PM PDT by Innovative

Of the 35 Senate seats up for grabs next year, 21 are held by Democrats, 14 by Republicans. Six Democratic seats are in states (W. Va., Ark., S.D., Louisiana, Alaska and Mont.) that Mitt Romney won by at least 10%. Only one Republican seat is in a state (Maine) that President Obama won by more than 10%.

To take control of the Senate, however, Republicans must win a net of six seats. They won that many seats in 2010 but lost two seats in 2012, leaving the Democrats with a 53-45 margin today (independents Bernie Sanders in Vermont and Angus King of Maine caucus with the Democrats.)

The quality of GOP campaigns will matter as well. Republicans must go toe-to-toe with Democrats on ObamaCare, spending, deficits, the president's social agenda and, where appropriate, their opponent's character. But even done effectively, this won't be enough.

The GOP has an outside chance of a Senate majority. To win, Republicans must also offer a compelling and substantive agenda for America's economy, jobs, health care and fiscal situation that attract discerning independents (and the occasional disgruntled Democrats) on whom victory will depend. 2014 represents a great opportunity for Republicans: they'd better not let it get away.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: congress; republicans; rove; senate
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I don't see how anyone can disagree with this. A Republican takeover of the Senate is critical to stop Obama's agenda.

Note: A thread with similar title was posted, which was a commentary on Rove's article, but the article written by Rove was not posted, so here it is, so people can read it directly.

Here is the link to the commentary on the commentary:

GOP could take Senate in 2014 if it avoids self-destructive candidates (Tokyo Rove knows best...)

1 posted on 05/03/2013 2:21:47 PM PDT by Innovative
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To: Innovative

You forget about the RINO’s like McCain and Graham, who will gum things up and work with the Dems, need to win at least 10 seats to be effective.


2 posted on 05/03/2013 2:24:31 PM PDT by Trueblackman (As a Conservative, I am proud to be on the Obama's enemy list and on the right side of history..)
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To: Innovative

And Tokyo Rove will be there to ensure we lose in any race HE doesn’t get HIS way.


3 posted on 05/03/2013 2:28:18 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
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To: Innovative

Karl, you are a reg’lar rocket scientist.
I was focusing on the Senate last go around.
The Presidency too! But that was for naught because yall can’t seem to herd cats.


4 posted on 05/03/2013 2:31:33 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions $1, Half Baked Ideas 50c)
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To: Innovative

Scott Brown in NH? Hmm. First I heard of that possibility.


5 posted on 05/03/2013 2:32:12 PM PDT by nhwingut (This tagline is for lease)
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To: Innovative

With Rove’s input into GOP policy,
as evidenced by his most recent successes (?) ,
it will be like riding on the “Titanic”


6 posted on 05/03/2013 2:34:01 PM PDT by Tilted Irish Kilt ("Political correctness is tyranny with manners." - Charlton Heston)
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To: Trueblackman

Well, Graham is going down this cycle.


7 posted on 05/03/2013 2:35:15 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: Innovative

Thank you Captain Obvious, Karl. Stop running your mouth dooming candidates you don’t have a hard-on for, and we may have a shot.


8 posted on 05/03/2013 2:35:19 PM PDT by Darren McCarty (If most people were more than keyboard warriors, we might have won the election)
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To: Innovative

In 2012, establishment Republicans like Karl Rove and American Crossroads preferred Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst over Ted Cruz in the Texas Republican Senate primary, with their donors backing Dewhurst against Cruz.

“nuff said”


9 posted on 05/03/2013 2:36:37 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions $1, Half Baked Ideas 50c)
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To: Innovative

How conservative is Mike Rogers for the Michigan seat?


10 posted on 05/03/2013 2:37:00 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: Innovative

Hey Rove ~ that last Presidential election ,
or the one before that ..
how did that work out for ya ??
The GOPe and Rove , what a combination !


11 posted on 05/03/2013 2:37:01 PM PDT by Tilted Irish Kilt ("Political correctness is tyranny with manners." - Charlton Heston)
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To: Innovative

Republicans must go toe-to-toe with Democrats...
********
And when have they ever done that??? We must have all missed this sudden outburst of political courage. /sarc


12 posted on 05/03/2013 2:40:57 PM PDT by Starboard
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To: Trueblackman

Chip away at the state level.


13 posted on 05/03/2013 2:41:10 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions $1, Half Baked Ideas 50c)
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To: Innovative
To win, Republicans must also offer a compelling and substantive agenda for America's economy, jobs, health care and fiscal situation that attract discerning independents (and the occasional disgruntled Democrats) on whom victory will depend.

14 posted on 05/03/2013 2:41:34 PM PDT by Bratch
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To: Jim Robinson; Innovative
And Tokyo Rove will be there to ensure we lose in any race HE doesn’t get HIS way.

Beat me to it. I'm almost sorry to hear the matter has Rove's attention and that he'll be "on the case". Bad news for good guys.

I should think that his principal concern will be directed to protecting RiNO incumbents and nominees-presumptive (anointed princes) against Tea Party/Main Street primary challengers, moreso than to trying actually to defeat Democrats in the general.

15 posted on 05/03/2013 2:43:17 PM PDT by lentulusgracchus
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To: Bratch
Rush today beat the RiNO's flatheaded about that "gotta win the middle" / "Hispanics" stuff. He was quoting a political number-sifter who demonstrated that Hispanics had nothing to do with Romney losing: It was driving away conservatives that did the Romneybot's candidacy in.

That crack of his before the Texas primary last spring, while explaining why he wouldn't visit Texas at all, was as illuminative as a big white rocket from the Titanic:

"They [conservatives] will come to me when I'm the last man standing."

Gosh, Mitt. Didn't know you cared so much.

16 posted on 05/03/2013 2:47:55 PM PDT by lentulusgracchus
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To: lentulusgracchus

What does Dick Morris and Frank Luntz say? /s


17 posted on 05/03/2013 2:50:04 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions $1, Half Baked Ideas 50c)
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To: Innovative

Hey Karl

Its about which candidate can excite the electorate to get them out to vote !
It’s not about “Whose turn is it to run for office”
Get out of “The Beltway” mentality , because that isn’t where the voters are located


18 posted on 05/03/2013 2:50:05 PM PDT by Tilted Irish Kilt ("Political correctness is tyranny with manners." - Charlton Heston)
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To: mylife

Why, I don’t know yet — but I’m sure I’m all ears! ;)


19 posted on 05/03/2013 2:55:54 PM PDT by lentulusgracchus
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To: FReepers; Patriots; FRiends



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Please Make Yours Today!

20 posted on 05/03/2013 2:59:31 PM PDT by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
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