Conor Lamb Roared. Republicans Should Quake.

[workinclasszero]

Conor Lamb Roared. Republicans Should Quake.
Frank Bruni MARCH 14, 2018

It’s hard to imagine a candidate with friendlier looks, a more harmless demeanor and a gentler-sounding surname than Conor Lamb.

It’s hard to imagine a message for the G.O.P. scarier than the one that Lamb, a Democrat, just delivered in a special House election in Pennsylvania’s 18th district, where he led his Republican opponent, Rick Saccone, by less than 1,000 votes in a race that remained too close to call on Wednesday morning.

Lamb declared victory. But even if he somehow ends up losing, Democrats have reason to rejoice and Republicans to tremble. Just 16 months ago, Donald Trump won this district by 20 points, and its promise as the kind of place brimming with the sort of voters who thrill to him was confirmed by his visit there late last week for a rally in support of Saccone. The president put what popularity he retains on the line, and flexed his trademark schoolyard humor with the epithet “Lamb the Sham.” This is all that he has to show for it.

Politically and ideologically, Saccone glued himself to Trump, running a campaign whose slogan might as well have been, “I’m With Him.” Outside Republican groups poured millions into the race, some of it for ads that touted the very tax cuts that are supposed to buoy their hopes to hold onto their House majority in the November midterms.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/opinion/conor-lamb-pennsylvania-election.html

[Historic NY]

1. March came in with a Lamb and goes out with a Lion

[workinclasszero]

3. Yes indeed!

[Hortensis]

2. Catchy NYT header, but although this Democratic victory roared,

Lamb won because he refused to roar. He set aside partisanship, didn't attack Trump to conservatives, and mostly spoke simple sense about the need for good, competent governing. (Thankfully, he sounded older than he looked too.)

As for the roaring in Republican officials' ears, that's from the shock of learning definitively that even this solidly conservative district really. does. not. like. their. great. tax-heist. "achievement."

[Gothmog]

4. There are 114 GOP-held seats more competitive than #pa18

Link to tweet

[workinclasszero]

5. Oh yeah

GOP bloodbath is coming in the midterms!