Agree....if it’s a ‘rat pickup in November, there’s some “shot yourself in the foot” taking place.
There is no reason to think it might be a Democrat pick-up in November. Cantor won the race last time 60/40. No reason to think Brat won’t do just as well, given the nature of the district.
But, given that it is extremely unlikely, losing this seat would not be a disaster, and would be worth it to enforce a little ideological discipline on some of the squishier members of the House Republican Caucus.
But that is just not going to happen. Unless Cantor runs a write-in campaign, this one is a throw-the-cards-up-against-the-wall winner. What we have here is a significant ideological upgrade and an attractive new face in the House.