GOP Gloom Sets In As Dems Aim For House Pickup Deep In Trump Country

[DonViejo]

By Cameron Joseph | March 12, 2018 6:00 am

House Democrats are hopeful they can pull of their first major special election upset on Tuesday, steal a heavily Republican blue-collar seat and deepen the GOP’s sense of dread over the upcoming midterm elections.

Democrats and Republicans involved in the race agree on a few things. State Rep. Rick Saccone (R) has run a lackluster campaign. Democrat Conor Lamb has proven to be a stellar candidate. Liberals’ fury at President Trump is so strong that even in a blue-collar district he won by 20 points his support for Saccone is a two-edged sword. And the race couldn’t be tighter, a warning sign for the GOP no matter who wins given the deeply populist-conservative nature of Pittsburgh’s suburbs and exurbs.

“Conor Lamb has made it very close, and that’s rather remarkable when you consider the district,” Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) told TPM. “Conor’s been a great candidate and candidates matter, but this does indicate that we can be competitive in states and districts that maybe a year ago or 18 months ago we’d never considered.”

Republicans privately agree, even as they look to pin the blame mostly on Saccone and downplay what it would mean to lose a deep red, culturally conservative district after a brutal loss in an Alabama Senate race late last year, a beat-down in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, dozens of losses of state legislative seats and a number of close calls in House special elections.

“We’re very concerned about this race,” one national Republican involved in the campaign told TPM. “The enthusiasm’s certainly there for Democrats. We’ve seen that in pretty much every race. That said, this is more an issue of a mediocre candidate, and mediocre is a kind way to describe him, versus a very good candidate.”

more
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/conor-lamb-tries-to-upset-rick-saccone-in-pennsylvania-district-that-went-for-trump

[Orange Free State]

1. How dumb were the Repukes to run against Pelosi

When Lamb said publicly that he did not support her? It’s almost like Saccone’s campaign manager paid no attention at all. Lamb took that issue off the table but they tried to use it anyway.
I am now seeing three second intrusive Saccone ads on YouTube videos, based on my log-in location I would think. They are trying to use up the ad budget before tomorrow, probably getting some kickbacks in the process. I know how that game is played. These people are born skimmers, like Trump renting campaign space from himself with campaign donor money.
In any event, even if Lamb doesn’t quite pull it out, he will be running in a less Gerrymandered district again this fall. If he DOES win it, well, Saccone was handed a district that he should have handily won, barring anything short of revelations of cannibalism (maybe not even then if he only did it once).

Look for the Megalomaniac-in-Chief to take credit for a win, divert blame for a loss.