Kay Hagan is now on the attack. Given the amount of beating she’s taken, it’s about time. So when Thom Tillis and his campaign complain that she’s interfering in the GOP primary, they’re just whining. Tillis needs to remember those “big-boy pants” he’s wearing.
Right now, Thom Tillis is the only Republican candidate with the resources in his campaign and the support from SuperPACs to compete with Hagan in the general election. That may change after the primary, but the Hagan campaign and her supporters would be fools to hold their fire while the Senator is getting pummeled by Americans for Prosperity and other groups. Until one of the other candidates emerges with either a war chest or support from some deep-pocketed PAC like Senate Conservatives Fund, Tillis is the only target that makes sense.
So does the Hagan campaign hope the GOP primary goes into a runoff? Of course they do. They’re not fools. They want Republicans fighting with each other as long as possible. The runoff gives Hagan and company room to build an organization and war chest while the GOP is spending money in an intramural battle.
Regardless, the hits on Tillis are as much about November as they are about May. The Democrats are defining their odds-on opponent now, just like the GOP is trying to define Hagan. If it alters the primary playing field, so be it, but given Hagan’s numbers and the amount spent against her already, they had little choice but to fight back now.
So, go ahead, Thom, and add a belt to those big boy pants.
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 >
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