As David articulated last night, the “every man for himself” attitude that is crippling the House GOP conference will only grow stronger in the weeks and months ahead now that the NRCC is left with no excuses for losing a safe seat in Mississippi.
Already, they’re tripping over themselves to lay the blame at someone’s feet:
Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, who chairs the conservative Republican Study Committee, defended the campaign chairman during the closed-door session, saying “the problem was not Cole, but the Republican brand” and the lack of well-formulated policy planks articulated by the party.
But other members did point fingers; Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn complained that newly-appointed GOP Sen. Roger Wicker did not do enough to help Republican Greg Davis retain his seat, members in attendance said afterward. Blackburn also explained that an ongoing feud between Republican Sen. Thad Cochran and the state’s recently retired GOP Sen. Trent Lott also played a part in the loss.
How bad is it? Rumors are raging that Cole might be sacked in favor of retiring Rep. Tom Davis:
The finger-pointing wasn’t just limited to the conference room in the Capitol basement where members met; former NRCC Chairman Tom Davis, who has become a pointed critic of his party and President Bush since announcing his retirement earlier this year, gave members a 20-page memo he typed up over the weekend about what the party needs to do to improve its brand nationally, the Virginia Republican told reporters after the meeting.
“This is the floor,” Davis said, stopping his foot on the concrete. “We’re underneath it.”
Davis, however, dowmplayed a rumor that he would be elevated to replace Cole, and the current job holder said no major changes were in the works at the committee “yet.”
It’s no surprise that a lot of House GOPers would want to sack Cole’s sorry ass, but they may not have a chance with only six months to go until election day.
The Hill sums up the situation in the starkest of terms:
The sky is falling on House Republicans and there is no sign of it letting up.
The GOP loss in Mississippi’s special election Tuesday is the strongest sign yet that the Republican Party is in shambles. And while some Republicans see a light at the end of the tunnel, that light more likely represents the Democratic train that is primed to mow down more Republicans in November.
Get ready to rock this November. Republicans can run, but they can’t hide.
Update: Blackburn has taken issue with the characterization of her remarks:
Blackburn referred to her former House colleague, but did not criticize him for a lack of effort. She was referring to a rift that emerged during the primary between rival regions in the district, a member present said.
Repubs would pick Davis, the same guy they basically gave the finger to by handing the GOP VA-Sen nomination to Gilmore? Makes perfect sense. I’m sure Davis has no grudge at all over that and is really interested in getting republicans elected this year… sure.
As you say, there are six months to go. Since Davis is retiring, he will have more free time, but forcing Cole out would do a lot of harm to the NRCC’s structures and make it a poison pill for his successors.
Still, Tom Cole isn’t keeping this job next cycle. The NRCC always seem to give it somebody named Tom, however, so I’m not sure who would succeed him.