Posted on 01/07/2014 12:42:27 PM PST by jazusamo
Add another to the lengthy list of contests between powerful Republican incumbents and Washington far-outsiders: An economics professor from Henrico, Va., Dave Brat, will announce his entry into the race for Eric Cantor’s House seat on January 9. He has already hired John Pudner of Concentric Direct as his consultant.
“I want to be Eric Cantor’s term limit,” he tells National Review Online.
That’s not an easy prospect by any stretch of the imagination, and Cantor is certainly not throwing in the towel. Rory Cooper, a spokesman for Cantor, tells NRO: “Congressman Cantor is proud to serve the people of the Seventh District and hopes to earn their trust again so he can continue creating jobs and opportunity for hard-working Virginia families and defending conservative values.”
But Brat looks to have a better shot than anyone who has tried to unseat the majority leader thus far. “This is probably the first time that Eric has had a credible opponent with a comparable education and background,” says Amanda Chase, Cantor’s former political director.
She adds that defeating Cantor is difficult for a variety of reasons. For one, though some of the majority leader’s moves have rankled grassroots activists in his district, he’s highly regarded among establishment Republicans. He also has a preternatural gift for fundraising, Chase adds, and, naturally, there’s his name recognition.
That said, Brat has a few interesting factors working in his favor. First, he’s expecting support from some of the deep-pocketed outside groups that have long been frustrated with the current Republican leadership. Brat couldn’t speak on the record about which groups he has met with, but he tells NRO that the political figures and organizations that have indicated interest in his candidacy are “as big as they get.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
Cantor wouldn’t be missed.
58% R district in 2012.
So unlikely for a Dem winner if the inexperienced R candidate flubs it in the general.
He’s not happy with Cantor and in a couple other articles one mentioned Tea Party backing and another mentioned libertarian.
Now if someone could take out the backstabbing traitor Paul Ryan in the Primaries we could have a very successful 2014!
Whats strange about him was one day he was a hard ass on Obama and then like magic he folded like a cheap suit. Makes me wonder if Chicago politics has something on him.
He caved so fast he shifted red
I’ve wondered that about more than a few pubbies. It’s either what’s in their dossiers, the sacks of cash passed under the table or both.
same goes for Ryan.
It all strikes me as very odd
I think Cantor was primaried from the left previously.
I’ve always suspected Cantor as a sleeper RAT, but Ryan really did surprise me with his U-turn. And now I’m being dismay-appointed by Walker.
Yep, he sure seems to be entrenched with the establishment now.
Geez, Cantor’s not Jack Brooks. He’s only been in the Congress since 2001. Just because he’s the majority leader doesn’t make him a heavyweight. I think he’s pretty weak. But I don’t live in VA.
the political figures and organizations that have indicated interest in his candidacy are “as big as they get.”
This likely means Sarah.
I hear you and live on the left coast and feel the same, he’s not a heavyweight, IMO.
It may well be and I hope so, if it is Cantor should be very concerned.
She threw down the gauntlet last night, essentially declared war, beware the fury of a patient woman AND a woman wrongfully scorned.
Cantor, Kasich, etc are NOT conservatives
His entrance into the race probably puts the quietus on any possibility of a Republican sponsored amnesty bill this year. Cantor won’t appreciate any lights being turned on to expose his collaboration with democrats.
I’d love to see that little weasel get primaried.
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