What started as a conspiracy theory on the Demo-blogs has now become accepted fact: Bruce Lunsford is Chuck Schumer's sock puppet.
When Andrew Horne precipitously withdrew from the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate race, Demo-blogs accused Senator Chuck Schumer of interfering. The theory was that Schumer wanted a self-funder so that the national party would not have to spend any money in Kentucky, since the state is not competitive in the presidential race.
Horne never said a word about why he withdrew, and the rumors flew for weeks, as "progressive" Kentucky activists fumed about the beltway interference in their primary. Horne was the victim and the Lunsford the beneficiary of Schumer playing Machiavelli.
Thus the Politico report headline, "Schumer-backed Senate candidate prevails in Kentucky."
Health care executive Bruce Lunsford will be the Democrats’ nominee against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in November after dispatching six other Democrats to win tonight’s Democratic Senate primary in Kentucky.
Lunsford handily defeated businessman Greg Fischer 51 percent to 34 percent to win the Democratic nomination. Lunsford was the preferred choice of Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer, who liked his ability to partially self-finance a race against McConnell.
The most extraordinary thing about the primary results is that Greg Fischer won 34 percent despite running perhaps the most error-ridden, embarrassing campaign in the nation. Even my ten year old (who thinks Bugs Bunny and the Roadrunner are hysterical) watched the Fischer "mud man" ad and observed, "that's the dumbest thing I've ever seen."
Among that 34 percent who voted for Fischer, some percentage had to be voting against Bruce Lunsford. The question becomes whether they hold their noses and back Lunsford in the fall.
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3 comments:
It only took three months but the mainstream finally sees the Schumer backing. Now it's irrelevant, really, but at the time I saw Schumer pushing Andrew Horne out of the race with my own eyes and ears. And I saw him-- along with the entire Kentucky establishment-- pushing Bruce Lunsford.
Just glad it's finally out in the open.
Jake, you called this accurately and much more quickly than the rest of us caught on. But I still don't get why Horne agreed to drop out. Schumer did not understand the political reality; Horne was the only chance. So why did Horne agree to quit? Does he expect to be part of an Obama administration? Or did Schumer suggest he'd support a run against Bunning?
He was literally forced out. Nothing was promised or even offered. He was just literally forced out. Best I can tell, though Andrew won't verify or deny, threats were made.
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