The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Hmmm. Why Did Jeri Thompson Endorse Sue Lowden Today?

Posted on | March 26, 2010 | 53 Comments

LAS VEGAS — Just settling in for an hour or two of reporting before I head out to Searchlight this afternoon (it’s 9:30 a.m. out here) and I saw this column by Jeri Thompson in The American Spectator:

In the Senate race to defeat Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid, we have several candidates who want the opportunity to challenge and defeat him. Each candidate has different skills and a particular constituency. But to defeat a sitting Senate Majority Leader will take someone with the “total package” — an experienced leader, who has run the political and public gauntlet, who can raise money on a national level and who can clearly communicate their principles. For Nevada, that person is Sue Lowden. . . .
While there are other Republican candidates in this race, I am convinced Sue is the only conservative Republican with the toughness and experience to go toe-to-toe with former boxer Harry Reid. Harry seems to be acknowledging that, because Sue is the only Republican who Reid is regularly attacking. . . .

And something weird at the end:

On the issue of life, the past week has made it clear to us what it means to be a “pro-life” Democrat. Sue has made it clear she knows where she stands and how she will legislate. She will be pro-life.

Weird, I say, because . . . well, is there a pro-choice Republican in this primary? Not that I know of. So why does Jeri feel the need to assert Lowden’s pro-life bona fides?

Maybe my initial impressions of this Nevada primary are screwy, but I thought Danny Tarkanian was the grassroots populist “outsider” candidate and Sue Lowden was the GOP Establishment candidate. So why is Jeri Thompson backing Lowden and making these pro-life rumbles? Then I checked Tark’s site and found this:

I believe life begins at conception and that we have a responsibility as human beings to protect that life if at all possible. That is why I oppose abortion, except where the mother’s life is threatened. I also oppose federal funding for abortions.

Ah, now I see. This could be trouble for Tarkanian. But wait a minute, what’s this story in the Las Vegas Sun?

In the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate, Danny Tarkanian has hit fellow candidate Sue Lowden — a casino owner worth an estimated $50 million and former chairwoman of the state Republican Party — with the socialist label.
In a recent automated telephone message, Tarkanian tells listeners his “latest message for freedom” — accusing Lowden of supporting the Wall Street bailout, which led to taxpayer money propping up the auto and insurance industries. “That’s not freedom. Let’s call it what it is: socialism,” Tarkanian says.

Oooooh. This is getting good . . .

UPDATE 1:35 p.m. ET: Just got off the phone with Lisa Graas, talking about contested GOP primaries this year. Couple of items at Memeorandum:

No plans to go to Utah on this trip, but I’ll be in Arizona on Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, I’ve got plans for some serious shoe-leather reporting this afternoon. Just keep hitting the tip-jar, folks.
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Category: Abortion, Fear and Loathing With Ann Coulter in Las Vegas, Harry Reid, Senate

Comments

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  • Sally

    Neither Sue Lowden nor Danny Tarkanian are the conservative candidates. The real conservative candidate is Sharron Angle. She has a record to prove her conservatism. She served 4 terms in the Nevada legislature and always voted the constitution and the conservative way. Even Danny Tarkanian said he would support her if he wasn’t running. Funny he got into the race after her.

  • http://www.redstateeclectic.com AngelaTC

    Just wanted to point out that the TEA Party Express endorsed Sharron Angle over both Lowden and Tarkanian. Angle also has the endorsement of Phyllis Schafley, which speaks to her pro-life credentials.

    Despite that Angle’s absolutely a long shot to win, both those items are bound to make the heads of the annoying leftover Bush Republicans throb a little. Hopefully.

  • http://www.redstateeclectic.com AngelaTC

    Just wanted to point out that the TEA Party Express endorsed Sharron Angle over both Lowden and Tarkanian. Angle also has the endorsement of Phyllis Schafley, which speaks to her pro-life credentials.

    Despite that Angle’s absolutely a long shot to win, both those items are bound to make the heads of the annoying leftover Bush Republicans throb a little. Hopefully.

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