“Question is, were the MS GOP bosses (Barbour, etc) so stupid that they didn’t see this coming?”
They think we’re stupid lemmings and either wouldn’t find out and question the election or just go along put thad back in and keep saying “thank you very much, much obliged.” And don’t forget roger wicker in this.
I’d add to that the probability that they were in a complete panic to prevent McDaniels from winning. The Dems dangled a little carrot in front of the (access to the Dems political GOTV apparatus) and they jumped at it.
I still think that Barbour and the rest are now p*ssing themselves over this. They were probably looking for a few thousand votes to swing a close election, not the 35,000 vote tidal wavy they got.