Top Republican Strategists On Kavanaugh Hearing: 'What A Mess'
By Cameron Joseph
September 27, 2018 12:17 pm
Its still early, but top Republicans are wincing at how the blockbuster hearing with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and judge Brett Kavanaugh is going.
Theres no question that this mornings testimony was bad for Kavanaugh and Republicans, said one former Senate leadership aide, who fretted that Republicans arent handling a tough situation well.
The all-male membership of the committee has mostly ceded its questioning to prosecutor Rachel Mitchell. That staffer said that wasnt working, saying Republicans may have overcorrected in worrying about pushing harder on Ford.
They were worried about the visuals of male senators interviewing Ford but theyve ceded all the political ground to the Democrats. Mitchells questioning at least this far hasnt done anything and then Senate Democrats have had free rein-in to score political points unchallenged, said the aide.
Another saw nothing good coming from the hearings.
Shes very believable and you cant help but feel sympathetic to her experience. What a mess, one former Senate GOP leadership aide texted TPM late Thursday morning. after Fords opening statements and the first round of questioning.
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