The GOP Establishment Has Picked Its Candidate in North Carolina

nationaljournal.com ^ | 4/7/14 | Josh Kraushaar and Alex Roarty

[cotton1706]

The GOP establishment is piling on in its support of Thom Tillis.

Two sources confirm to the National Journal that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will endorse the North Carolina House speaker, the Republican front-runner for his party's Senate nomination who is fighting off an array of opponents in a primary. The endorsement is expected before the state's May 6 primary.

One source with knowledge of the situation said the chamber also plans to air TV ads on his behalf, a big boost for a candidate who already holds a sizable fundraising advantage over his intra-party foes.

The business group's backing is hardly a shock: The state's speaker of the House is seen as the most establishment-friendly candidate in the North Carolina Republican field and is generally considered the only one capable of defeating Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in the fall. Tillis has already participated in fundraisers with Karl Rove and GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, and late last month the Rove-backed American Crossroads announced it would run ads in his support.

But the timing of the chamber's support of Tillis, coming nearly a month before the primary, might surprise some, and counts as another example of the Republican establishment trying to use its influence to bolster candidates it considers the most viable in general elections. Although eager to avoid unelectable candidates like Todd Akin or Christine O'Donnell, top GOP strategists have been wary of overtly backing their favored candidates because of the backlash it might incite among grassroots conservatives.

So far this year, they have carefully selected supporting only the candidates they consider the safest bets. (Crossroads, in addition to backing Tillis, has also run ads on behalf of a Republican Senate candidate in Alaska, Dan Sullivan.)

[cotton1706]

May 6th is the next big primary!

Greg Brannon for Senate!!

[Regulator]

Let me guess...he’s pro amnesty

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The U.S. Chamber of Crony Fascists is ON THE MARCH!!!

[cotton1706]

“Let me guess...he’s pro amnesty”

If he’s not, he will be. All establishment people get a training session with John McCain, and shazaam, they’re for “comprehensive immigration reform,” or “a pathway to citizenship.”

[knarf]

interesting bio

[ilgipper]

funny how the choice from DC is always because ‘they are the only one who can win in November’, but rarely do.

[cotton1706]

“funny how the choice from DC is always because ‘they are the only one who can win in November’, but rarely do.”

You mean like John McCain, Mitt Romney, Pete Hoekstra, Connie Mack, Tommy Thompson, George Allen, Carly Fiorina, etc.?

[arista]

"...is generally considered the only one capable of defeating Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in the fall."

According to whom? Against Hagan, Tillis polls the worst of any Republican in the field:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/

[Din Maker]

Tillis has already participated in fundraisers with Karl Rove and GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, and late last month the Rove-backed American Crossroads, and any other political whores he can muster up.