Tonight Senator John Ensign (R-NV) will announce he has had an extramarital affair (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/eye-on-2012/ensign-to-acknowledge-extramar.html?hpid=topnews). While many of the details have yet to be revealed, Ensign was a rising star in the GOP, having the unenviable task of leading the NRSC in the 2008 cycle. He even recently spoke in Iowa, stoking chatter that he may be considering a 2012 Presidential run. So this can’t be considered a minor blip on the radar for the Republicans, as it puts an embarassing scandal in front of them right as they’re trying to mount a united opposition to Obama’s agenda.
Moreover, in 2007, Ensign was one of the first Senators to call for Larry Craig’s resignation over his foot-tapping affair in a Minneapolis airport bathroom, calling such behavior “disgraceful.” While it is unlikely that he will step down as a result of this (even though he, unlike Craig, was actually caught having an affair) it will likely kill any hopes he had of a 2012 bid for President. It may also damage the GOP as well, as he was (to date) the only Western, or in truth non-Southern GOPer, to consider mounting a serious bid (some may argue Palin is also a Westerner but I’d put her in a whole other category). Geographically, it only further limits the base the GOP can draw from when challenging Obama. The West was one of the few areas they likely could have mounted a serious challenge to the President’s electoral chances.
This could also impact his 2012 re-election chances. Nevada is no Louisiana, and voters there aren’t so partisanly Republican as to automatically forgive Ensign for his actions (although, this is the state that’s home to Sin City so maybe folks there won’t care). As a Democrat, I only laugh again at a GOP’er who couldn’t keep his pants on, but it seems this has been a trend for both sides (Edwards, anyone?)
Seriously, what the hell possess guys who have a chance at becoming the most powerful elected leader in the world to throw it away over something so trivial? Any thoughts on any of this? I’m especially interested to see what our Nevadans think.