Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell's win continues GOP establishment surge

Los Angeles Times ^ | 05/20/2014 | MICHAEL A. MEMOLI, LISA MASCARO

[SeekAndFind]

Incumbent Republicans appeared poised to cruise to victory in key primary elections Tuesday, offering fresh evidence that the party’s establishment wing has successfully neutralized outside conservative groups that have vexed congressional leaders since the rise of the tea party.

In Kentucky, Sen. Mitch McConnell, the party’s leader in the Senate, easily won renomination for a sixth term against a tea-party-backed challenger who hoped to tap into tea party activists’ distrust of GOP leaders in Washington. Shortly after polls closed, the Associated Press declared McConnell the winner.

McConnell now faces what will probably be a more significant challenge in the general election from Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, who glided to the Democratic nomination Tuesday.

As in Kentucky, an effort by conservative groups to unseat an ally of House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) appeared to fizzle in Idaho. Rep. Mike Simpson was on track to defeat his tea-party-funded challenger, Bryan Smith, with help from a late infusion of outside spending from establishment groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

[hal ogen]

It is just the beginning.

[headstamp 2]

The GOPe has a pyrrhic victory tonight.

[Paladin2]

Ditch Mitch in the General, as an example for the others.

[ObamahatesPACoal]

Mitch can only survive if he spends the next 6 months voting conservative.

[Jonty30]

Regardless of the Tea Party’s efforts, we won’t win every fight. However, as long as we try as hard as we can, we will eventually win enough battles to eventually change the party.

[Mr. K]

the fact that they had to fight this hard and STILL lose over 40% of the vote is a clear message.

[SoConPubbie]

They so desperately want that to be true!

[dfwgator]

I do not believe anymore that the Tea Party can work within the GOP.

[Deagle]

Well, yippee! I will have to have a drink and celebrate another win by the establishment I guess...what a great victory.

I’m sure things will change now!!

[ilgipper]

They must have missed all the wins last week.

[cripplecreek]

Yup and not all tea partiers will hold the line but they can be removed as well.

[jsanders2001]

> The GOPe has a pyrrhic victory tonight.

Everywhere they’re getting rid of the paper votes. With Soros having an ownership interest in the electronic voting machine manufacturer do you think the DemoRats or RINOs will ever lose again?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Majority, minority leaders, speakers and important committee chairmen almost always win elections. Their constituents know the benefits of such a position.

[stanne]

Don’t go wobbly on us.

[boycott]

$$$$s and a weak opponent assured mitch the win.

[dfwgator]

I think we need a US equivalent of the UKIP.

[ConorMacNessa]

If that Rino bastard had directed his attention to crushing the Democrats Socialists instead of the Conservative base of his own Party, I could have supported him.

But he didn't and that's one of the many reasons I cut my ties to the Republican Party.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

O stranger, tell the Lacedaemonians that we lie here, obedient to their command.

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[FlingWingFlyer]

You know we Americans are losing when the commie libs start cheering on the GOPe.

[ncalburt]

The KY Dems got the despised DC elite they wanted against Grimes and Vile Mitchy trashed the zgop base to win.

Good bye Mitchy .
Good riddance