Works for me – welcome to asynchronous, asymmetric warfare. Caught this from DiStaso at WMUR (emphasis mine, reformatted)
THE CONSERVATIVES’ CAUCUS. A recently formed conservative group, the 603 Alliance, held its own summit at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nashua the day after the Republican Party finished its event. A wrap-up memo to supporters obtained by Primary Source reported that the “consensus among the group” was that “everybody is sick of losing and will support the GOP nominee and not stay home,” “Third party is definitely out” and “603 Alliance members will come together behind a conservative candidate and come up with a list of second, third and fourth choices.” The group intends to hold an Iowa-style caucus on Oct. 17 to “determine who the conservative candidate is.…Members will be encouraged to turn out 25,000 primary votes for the endorsed candidate.”
While no one questions the right of the Alliance – headed by some of the most prominent conservatives in the state – to hold such a caucus, GOP establishment-types are not happy at what appears to be an effort to choose a single candidate to challenge the likes of Jeb Bush, Chris Christie or perhaps John Kasich should he run. “They’re all fine individuals and fine conservatives,” said a top party activist, “but that’s not how the primary operates. All of these candidates are pretty capable in their own right.”
I guess my answer to that is “That which is not explicitly illicit is permitted”. To paraphrase Clauswitz: “Politics is war waged by other means”. For years, we have watched the Establishment pull all kinds of stuff, one of which was hearing multiple times that funding for Conservative or Liberty & Freedom type candidates was withheld – “the word went out”. True or not, that’s the perception. And all I have to do is point to the Dave “I’m too drunk” Boutin vs conservative firebrand Jane Cormier race. The Establishment certainly made it clear who their choice was and made sure that Boutin’s war chest was filled to overflowing (In all, in round numbers & without going back to find that number) with Boutin spending close to $200K with the majority of that spent in the primary – Jane had $16K. And still almost beat the Establishment hack.
So, indicative of “who has the money” that was, the only other platform is “who has the votes”? Sure, money helps – a lot. But it is not the primary determinate as shown by Bill Binnie’s millions spent and lost and Carol Shea-Porter’s congressional run (primary then beating Jeb Bradley) that was penniless compared to her competition. In the latter race, it was coordination of the Democrat grassroots that pulled it out.
As a model, if it happens once, it can happen again. A more recent duo of examples was this last cycle with the defeats of both Walt Havenstein and Scott Brown. It was because of a coordinated effort between a number of L&F activists, the Right to Life folks (See, NH GOP Elite – social issues DO matter!) and the Second Amendment groups. We also did it in 2010 with the TEA Party movement when we dragged the Republicans over the winning line even as Papa Smurf bragged about his win – he knew that a lot of newly politically activated folks made that happen.
And now, the Establishment is ticked off at the 603 Alliance because we wish to unite behind a single CONSERVATIVE L&F candidate? That “but that’s not how the primary operates“.
Well, the only thing I can say now is “Guess What, Boys & Girls”?
