Over on the home page, I take a look at the free-for-all that is emerging in the special House election scheduled for September 13 in Nevada’s 2nd congressional district. (Rep. Dean Heller, the former incumbent, is now a U.S. senator.) There will be no party primary; the ballot will be open to anyone with 100 signatures. While the vast district is generally Republican-leaning, there are at least four major GOP candidates: former state assemblywoman and Senate candidate Sharron Angle, state senator Greg Brower, former U.S.S. Cole commander Kirk Lippold, and Nevada Republican-party chairman Mark Amodei.
At this point, only three Democrats are running, and state treasurer Kate Marshall appears to be the best-known. Whoever gets the most votes wins, so it is quite possible that a Democrat could win the seat.
With no primary scheduled, and the obvious problems of the state party somehow unilaterally appointing its nominee (COUGHscozzafavaCOUGH), the GOP needs its voters in this district to coalesce behind a candidate. But which one and how?
Normally I don't mind messy primaries -- but messy general elections are bad. This will be a messy general election. The GOP candidates should get the best polls they can, and not stay in if they don't have a legitimate shot. We don't need spoilers, and they should realize that keeping the seat Republican is more important than their winning the seat.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAny who steps aside should be rewarded for party loyalty down the road.
The GOP candidates should agree to a party-funded primary. There is no law against the Nevada GOP taking a poll of all Nevada Republicans on the same date and presenting the results to the candidates, nor is there a law prohibiting candidates from pulling out of the race if they don't top that poll.
Just because the Nevada Secretary of State wants to stick it to the GOP doesn't mean the GOP has to take it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJim, Reid stole the election against Sharon Angle with the help of the SEIU who programmed the voting machines to count Angle votes to his tally, ACORN and and other thugs who voted several times!
Sharon Angle had a 4 point lead just before the polls closed and Reid ended up the winner with more than 10,000 votes in a matter of a few hours.
Unless the voting procedure is changed in Nevada any GOP candidate will lose!
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse