In 2014, establishment Republicans got what they wanted: moderate candidates for US Senate. In both 2010 and 2012, the GOP lost chances to take the Senate because unelectable candidates won Republican primaries. Candidates like Christine O’Donnell in Delaware, Sharon Angle in Nevada, Todd Akin in Missouri and Richard Mourdock in Indiana effectively kept Harry Reid Senate Majority Leader until this year.
Now, a group of those establishment donors wants to try to do the same thing in the 2016 presidential race. They are trying to pave the way for a single moderate candidate to avoid a nasty primary season. All I can think is, “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men…”
Coronations rarely go well in American politics, especially when the goal is to shut out other groups that are ostensibly on your side of the aisle. The establishment types are worried about a host of moderate candidates splitting the vote and making room for a Rand Paul, Mike Huckabee or Rick Santorum. You know, the type of candidates that activists like.
The first trouble is picking the one nominee. In this case, they are looking for a moderate governor or former governor like Jeb Bush, Chris Christie or Mitt Romney. It’s not likely that the two not chosen are going to walk away peacefully and enthusiastically endorse The Choice.
The second problem is alienating the activists. The right flank of the Republican Party already distrusts the establishment. Leaving them out of the decision making process might encourage them to stay home or support a third party.
Finally, politics are full of unknowns and uncertainties. While Bush, Christie and Romney may be well vetted, financial or personal problems might surface or better candidates might emerge. For all of their plusses, Christie is still an asshole and Romney is still an out-of-touch millionaire. And John Kasich in Ohio is looking more interesting.
The goal of coronations is to reduce competition and get on with the process of coalescing around a single candidate. However, in politics, they may do the opposite. They can instill as much resentment and rancor as they do peace and harmony. The billionaires would be wise to let the primaries play out naturally. Despite 2010 and 2012, the better candidates tend rise while the lesser candidates fall by the wayside, particularly in multi-state presidential primaries.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
I agree, republicans have stupid sounding people running. However, as matters go, it is hard to believe some of these republican candidates are really stupid. Many of them have advanced degrees and are professionals, like physicians. But I believe they start to look stupid when they play to their base. I think an accurate description would be intellectually dishonest. Intellectual dishonesty would apply to Bush, Romney, Paul, but not to the rest. They are for real.