Balanced Budget Amendment

It's A Trap! The Hidden Pitfalls Of GOP's 'Cut, Cap, And Balance' Plan

Brian Beutler | July 18, 2011, 1:24PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Tuesday, the House of Representatives will vote on, and likely pass, a conservative Republican plan called "Cut, Cap, and Balance." The package will include some immediate, as-yet unspecified spending cuts, a statutory cap to keep spending below 18 percent of GDP, and a promised separate vote on a Constitutional amendment that requires Congress to maintain a balanced budget, but essentially forbids any future tax increases.

It would also raise the debt ceiling through 2012 -- an ancillary benefit for Republicans who are looking for any way to pin the consequences of a debt default, should one happen, on Democrats. Indeed, the GOP feigned shock and anger Monday when the White House, as expected, issued an official veto threat -- turns out President Obama's the one threatening to wreak havoc on the country.

Of course, later in the week, the Senate will follow suit, and there Cut, Cap, and Balance is expected to fail.

For Republicans, it's the perfect alignment of popular sounding policies -- "spending cuts" a "balanced budget" and, finally, an end to this debt limit brinksmanship -- minus the a scintilla of accountability or transparency. And for Republicans trying to make nice with conservative activists, it will give them cover to later vote for a much more modest plan to cut some spending, raise the debt limit, avoid default. But the details have been intentionally obscured by most conservatives, and they reveal the plan to be the most radical fiscal policy the GOP has aligned behind in years -- one that makes the Republican's current budget proposal to phase out Medicare appear moderate by comparison.

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Debt

Senate GOP To Dems On Debt Limit: Give Us Huge Medicare Cuts, Or Raise It Yourself

Brian Beutler | June 28, 2011, 4:07PM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

Senate Republicans are threatening openly to throw up their hands and let Democrats vote to raise the debt limit on their own if President Obama doesn't cave and agree to trillions of dollars in entitlement cuts and zero tax increases. Here's how NRSC chairman John Cornyn (R-TX) put it, speaking to reporters Tuesday:

"I am wondering if as the deadline approaches, whether our Democratic colleagues in the Senate have realized that unless the President's willing to do a grand bargain that's good for the American people how much he's opening his own political party -- candidates running for 2012 in the United States Senate -- to a referendum on his failure to reach a grand bargain," Cornyn said. "Obviously if it's possible to deal with the spending problem and the entitlement reforms, that's our first choice. But if the President and his party refuse to do the right thing, then in the Senate they're going to be required to vote to raise the debt limit and we'll have a referendum in 2012 on that decision. I don't think if I were a senator on the other side of the aisle I would view that prospect with a lot of pleasure."

Translation: give us what we want, or we'll leave it to you to avoid default, then spend the next year and a half running against you on the grounds that you voted to give President Obama a blank check for massive government spending.

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Anthony Weiner

Republicans Look To Tar Democrats With Weiner Scandal

Benjy Sarlin | June 6, 2011, 5:35PM

Capitalizing off of Rep. Anthony Weiner's (D-NY) shock press conference admitting to sending lewd tweets to a college student, Republican officials are trying to tar Democrats with the lawmaker's scandal.

"It's time for Democratic leadership to explain why Congressman Weiner's actions never aroused any suspicion, and why they rushed to his defense while so many Americans were shocked and confused by his bizarre and disturbing behavior," Paul Lindsay, communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement.

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Fundraising

Democratic Committee Narrowly Outraises GOP In Senate Fundraising

Benjy Sarlin | April 20, 2011, 12:41PM

Senate Democrats eked out a slightly better fundraising quarter than their counterparts on the other side of the aisle, announcing today a $11.6 million haul for their campaign committee versus $11.2 million for the GOP.

Democrats touted the numbers, which included $5.6 million raised in March, as evidence their new strategy of tying Republicans to Rep. Paul Ryan's budget was exciting donors. "The Republican move to end Medicare and give more tax breaks to the very rich has fueled support from our base," Guy Cecil, executive director of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, said in a statement.

Republicans raised $5 million in March, which they noted was their highest one-month total in a non-election year. Rob Jesmer, the National Republican Senatorial Committee's executive director, noted in a statement that "we're still up against a Senate Democrat majority and the Fundraiser-In-Chief in the White House" but said they were on track to meet their goals.

The DSCC used the cash to pay off $3.75 million in debt, leaving them on the hook for another $4.89 million with $5.5 million cash on hand. The NRSC has $2.75 million in debt and $1.48 million cash on hand.

Barack Obama

Obama Rides Unicorn To Reelection...In GOP's Fake Campaign Ad

Jon Terbush | April 1, 2011, 10:59AM

From an NRSC ad, "President Barack Obama's First Ad of 2012"

President Obama's first reelection campaign video depicts him smiling wildly as he rides a unicorn over a rainbow.

Or at least that's what a new satirical ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, released Friday to coincide with April Fools Day, shows.

The ad sarcastically brags about Obama's calls for change and legislative accomplishments, but juxtaposes those claims on a backdrop of Tea Party protests and low-points from Obama's first two years in office, such as the BP oil spill.

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Joe Manchin Skipped DREAM And DADT Votes For A Christmas Party

Jillian Rayfield | December 18, 2010, 5:42PM

Joe Manchin

After the Senate broke a GOP filibuster on Don't Ask, Don't Tell earlier today, Sen. Joe Manchin released a statement saying he had concerns about the "timing" and "implementation" of a repeal.

But it seems he took even more issue with the timing of the vote itself, seeing as he skipped the vote altogether to attend a Christmas party.

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AK-SEN

Cornyn: I Hope Alaska Can Have Full Two Senators Soon (Really?)

Eric Kleefeld | December 10, 2010, 12:11PM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has expressed his hope that litigation in the Alaska Senate race -- where Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski's apparent victory as a write-in candidate is being challenged by the Tea Party-backed GOP nominee Joe Miller -- ends soon and the state has full representation in the Senate. Hmm...

As Roll Call reports:

"We just have to be patient and wait for the judge to decide," said Cornyn, a former judge. "I understand that could be as early as [Thursday], and I hope it doesn't go on much longer because I think the people of Alaska deserve to have a Senator when we reconvene again in January, and not still have that up in the air."

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AK-SEN

Murkowski: I Don't Blame The GOP For Supporting Miller

Jillian Rayfield | November 17, 2010, 11:26AM

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Sen. Lisa Murkowski said yesterday that she doesn't blame her felllow GOPers for throwing their weight behind the tea party-backed Joe Miller in the Alaska Senate race. "I knew that by running as a write-in candidate, I would not be my party's nominee," she said. "I could not expect that same level of support that other party nominees would have, and that's the simple reality of it."

Murkowski launched her write-in campaign after losing to Miller in the Republican primary, and now looks poised to win as the state finishes counting the write-in ballots.

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John Cornyn

Cornyn Likely To Head NRSC

Brian Beutler | November 15, 2010, 6:22PM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) will run, likely uncontested, to head the Senate Republicans' campaign committee next year.

According to CNN, Cornyn has already secured the support of incoming, Tea Party-backed GOP senators, despite facing criticism from conservatives that he did not do enough to promote the candidacies of several losing Republican nominees.

The GOP will hold their leadership elections, including their new NRSC chairman, behind closed doors tomorrow.

John Cornyn

Cornyn: We Can't Take The Senate

Brian Beutler | November 1, 2010, 9:30AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

On the Today Show this morning, NRSC Chairman John Cornyn said conclusively that the Senate is out of reach for Republicans this cycle.

"I think we don't get the majority back but we come awfully close, and we finish the job in 2012," Cornyn said.

This has actually been Cornyn's view for months. But this weekend, in what was probably an attempt at expectation-setting, unnamed Democrats started telling reporters they feared they might lose control of the Senate. Cornyn has his own incentives not to inflate expectations, but he's consistently said he thinks 2012 is the year Republicans will return to power in the upper chamber.

Most prognosticators say Republicans are poised to pick up between six and eight seats on Tuesday -- not enough to retake control. Video of Cornyn's appearance below the fold.

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John Cornyn

Cornyn 'Concerned' About Joe Miller's Nosedive In Alaska Senate Race

Brian Beutler | October 31, 2010, 11:50AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

NRSC Chairman John Cornyn this morning acknowledged that the GOP Senate nominee in Alaska, Joe Miller, is in real trouble. But, he added, his party will be satisfied if incumbent Repbulican-turned-independent Lisa Murkowski prevails as a write-in candidate.

"We are supporting the nominee of our party, which is Mr. Miller, and -- but are concerned," Cornyn said. "I think that polls are very close now between Senator Murkowski and Joe Miller, and what we want to make sure of is that the Democrat doesn't win."

Cornyn was responding to an earlier report that the GOP had largely given up on Miller, who's tanked dramatically in the polls in recent days. Murkowski and Miller are running against Democratic nominee Scott McAdams.

KY-SEN

GOP Runs Its Own Aqua Buddha Spot In KY-SEN (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 25, 2010, 3:52PM

From a NRSC campaign ad, "Change the Subject"

You might think the Republicans want to move the Kentucky Senate race away from Aqua Buddha and back to something they'd rather talk about -- like, oh, anything else. But in a new TV ad the NRSC is dropping on the Bluegrass State, Republicans are trying to make hay out Democratic nominee Jack Conway's decision to turn tales of Republican Rand Paul's years in college against him.

Conway, of course, turned national attention to Kentucky with his ad calling on Paul to explain stories of his days at Baylor University first told in the pages of GQ. The stories include membership in a banned campus group that Baylor officials said "mocked Christianity" and a bizarre "hazing" incident that included Paul and a friend tying up a woman and putting her in a creek before asking her to pray to the god "Aqua Buddha."

The ad -- and Conway's decision to make Paul's years at Baylor a campaign issue -- drew fire from both sides. Paul and the Republicans condemned the spots as unfair, while some Democrats and reporters said they crossed the line and tried to hold Paul responsible for things he did as a teenager.

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AK-SEN

NRSC Ad In Alaska: Obama And Pelosi 'Want To Tell Us How To Live' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2010, 3:42PM

From a NRSC campaign ad, "Control"

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has a new ad in the highly unusual Alaska Senate race, promoting Republican nominee Joe Miller in an election in which GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski continues to run as a write-in candidate despite her primary loss, and Democratic nominee Scott McAdams is hoping to sneak up from behind.

Interestingly, the ad makes no mention at all of Lisa Murkowski. Instead, the spot focuses on attacking the policies of President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- appealing to Alaska's traditional declarations of frontier libertarianism (though it is arguably something of a socialist welfare state in practice, with government ownership of oil resources and the equal distribution of revenue to all citizens).

"They're out of control. Government takeovers, Wall Street bailouts, and Obamacare," the announcer says. "They raised taxes by $500 billion, then told us we get fined if we don't buy health insurance. They want to tell us how to live. To stop them, we need Joe Miller. Joe Miller will stand up for us, and fight back against big government intervention. Joe Miller is on our side."

The TPM Poll Average gives Miller 34.5%, Murkowski 33.1%, and McAdams 27.5%.

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WV-SEN

NRSC Ad: Manchin Is 'Hunting For Votes' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 20, 2010, 1:52PM

From a NRSC campaign ad, "Hunting Trip"

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has a new ad in the West Virginia Senate race, accusing Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin of "camouflaging" his support for President Obama.

The ad uses a video of clip of Manchin with a hunting rifle -- but no camo gear -- lifted from Manchin's ad in which he distanced himself from national Dems by shooting a paper labeled as "Cap And Trade Bill."

"Joe Manchin is on a hunting trip -- he's hunting for votes," the announcer says. "But Manchin's camouflaging his support of President Obama's worst policies. Joe Manchin supported Obama's government takeover of health care. Joe Manchin supported Obama's stimulus bill. It wasted billions and created more debt. A good governor -- has a bad idea. Send Joe Manchin back to Charleston, and send a message to Obama."

The TPM Poll Average gives Republican nominee John Raese a lead of 46.8%-45.6%.

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KY-SEN

Kentucky Station Pulls NRSC Spot For Inaccuracy

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 19, 2010, 4:23PM

KY Senate candidate Jack Conway (D)

A Kentucky television station has taken down an NRSC ad aimed at Democratic Senate nominee Jack Conway, TPM has learned.

WHAS-TV general manger Mark Pimentel told me today that the ad -- in which the Republicans try to connect Conway to cap-and-trade proposals -- was pulled after the Republicans could not prove its veracity.

Conway's campaign had argued that the spot incorrectly painted Conway as a supporter of cap-and-trade, which on a number of occasions (including an interview with me) he has adamantly said he does not.

That argument appears to have won the day.

"The ad was pulled based on the documentation both sources provided," Pimentel told me.

"The Republicans offered a second sourcing when the first failed to convince us, but that failed as well as it contained no quotes from Jack Conway that proved their point," he said.

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DSCC

Outside Groups Dominate Campaign Ad Spending In 2010 (CHARTS)

Brian Beutler | October 18, 2010, 10:04AM

Karl Rove

Anonymous outside interests have gone from being a relatively minor source of funding for campaign-season television ads to being the dominant player in 2010, according to figures compiled by the Sunlight Foundation.

A new (and effective) Democratic messaging strategy -- criticizing Republicans and their conservative backers for letting outside, anonymously funded groups run ads attacking candidates -- isn't an example of a party desperately looking for a new bogeyman. It's backed up by data, freely available from the Federal Elections Committee.

The sea change is largely the result of the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, overturning a ban preventing pressure groups and corporations from running so-called independent expenditure ads for or against a candidate (these are distinct from issue ads, which only mention candidates vis-a-vis their policy positions). As a result of that shift, the official party committees and candidates face direct contribution limits and must disclose their funders. PACs have a bit more leeway -- they still face disclosure rules, but no donation limits and can make unlimited independent expenditures. Groups organized as non-profits, though, are unencumbered: they can take in as much money as they want, without having to disclose any of their donors.

The result has been extraordinary.

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FL-SEN

National GOP Says Rubio's Locked It Up In FL-SEN

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 14, 2010, 6:44PM

Marco Rubio (R)

It's all over but the shouting in the Florida Senate race, the NRSC says. Despite facing two well-funded nominees in Democrat Kendrick Meek and independent Charlie Crist, the national party is pulling $4 million in ad money out of Florida, a sure sign the party thinks Republican nominee Marco Rubio has things pretty close to locked up.

There's good reason for their confidence: Each new poll of the three-way contest shows Rubio picking up steam against his two opponents. The TPM Poll Average shows Rubio with 44.5%, Crist with 28.8% and Meek with 21.7%.

As you can see from the trendlines, Rubio's got the momentum:

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WV-SEN

NRSC Admits Responsibility For 'Hicky' Casting Call, Fires Vendor

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2010, 12:33PM

Ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, "Stop Obama"

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is now admitting something they had previously denied: Their ad production company, Jamestown Associates, was directly responsible for the infamous casting call for "hicky" looking actors for an ad in the West Virginia Senate race.

The NRSC had previously denied responsibility for the casting call, pinning the blame on a subcontractor who handled the casting. But as Politico reported this morning, the casting agent Kathy Wickline has produced an e-mail from Jamestown Associates, containing that very language: "We are going for a 'Hicky' Blue Collar look. These characters are from West virginia so think coal miner/trucker looks."

Now, as Greg Sargent reports, the NRSC is admitting that their vendor was responsible -- and sacking them immediately -- and that the NRSC's previous statement to the contrary for the past week were "incorrect."

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WV-SEN

GOP Ad-Men Sought 'Hicky' Actors For West Virginia Senate Race Spot (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 7, 2010, 9:30AM

Ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, "Stop Obama"

Oh, this is rich. As the Politico reports, the National Republican Senatorial Committee's advertising people sought out just the right kind of actors for a recent ad in the West Virginia Senate race -- the "hicky" kind.

(Late Update: The NRSC reportedly plans to pull the ad -- and are vigorously disavowing the casting call. "No one at the NRSC, or associated with the NRSC, had anything to do with the language used in this casting call," said NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh. "We do not support it, and suffice to say, we would encourage our contractors to never work with this outside agency again.")

The ad featured three blue-collar guys at a diner, talking about how the only way to stop President Obama was to vote against Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin in the race for Senate. It appears that the ad was shot in Philadelphia, not in West Virginia, and sought out that key "hicky" actor type, in the GOP's efforts to show West Virginia voters that the party is on their side.

"We are going for a 'Hicky' Blue Collar look," a casting call for the ad said. "These characters are from West Virginia so think coal miner/trucker looks."

And just to further damage their street cred, the casting call misspelled a key down-home brand name, asking for actors with "John Deer [sic] hats (not brand new, preferably beat up)."

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WV-SEN

NRSC Ad In West Virginia: 'A Vote For Manchin Is A Vote For Obama' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 5, 2010, 3:41PM

From a NRSC campaign ad, "Stop Obama."

The National Republican Senatorial Committee's new ad in the West Virginia special Senate election sums up their message in this race. The ad doesn't promote the Republican nominee, businessman John Raese, and doesn't even employ all that much vigor to attack the Democratic nominee, the popular Gov. Joe Manchin. Instead the on-screen text simply says: "A vote for Manchin is a vote for Obama."

Keep in mind that in the 2008 election, Obama only received 43% of the vote in this state, and the TPM Poll Average currently gives him only a 30.3% approval rating here, with 64.9% disapproval. As a result, the Obama card is an obvious way for Republicans to go in this historically Democratic state, in the race to get the Senate seat that was held for over 50 years by the late Dem Sen. Robert Byrd.

The ad features three blue-collar men in a diner, talking about how much they don't like Obama.

"Joe's not bad as governor, but when he's with Obama--" says one man.

"He turns into 'Washington Joe,'" another says.

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DE-SEN

Cornyn Punts On Chance To Defend O'Donnell

Christina Bellantoni | October 1, 2010, 9:02AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Sen. John Cornyn told reporters that Delaware's Senate race still does not appear to be competitive for the GOP thanks to Christine O'Donnell.

TPM spoke briefly with Cornyn following an event at the National Press Club Thursday, and asked about O'Donnell's recent snafu with her education history and how serious of a problem he deems that to be. Rather than defend her, Cornyn spoke generally.

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WV-SEN

NRSC Puts $1 Million In WV-SEN Race, Where Attack Ads Rule (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 24, 2010, 4:20PM

A campaign ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, "Washington"

The attack ads are now flying in the West Virginia Senate race, where Republicans hope to beat two-term Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin in a state that has been trending their way -- and thus capture the seat that was held for over 50 years by Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has now launched a $1 million ad buy against Manchin. Polling data has consistently shown Manchin himself to be very popular in this state, and he is without a doubt the strongest candidate that the Democrats could have recruited for the race. But the GOP has an argument on its side, too -- President Obama remains very unpopular in West Virginia, a state where he received a mere 43% of the vote back in 2008, and has only gone downhill since then. As a result recent poll have shown either Manchin or Republican businessman John Raese ahead by close margins.

The new NRSC ad continues the anti-Obama theme. "Joe Manchin supports Barack Obama's big government agenda," the announcer says, naming issues as the stimulus and health care reform. "Big spending. More government. Less freedom. We don't want a rubber stamp for Obama. We can't afford Joe Manchin in Washington."

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CA-SEN

Koch Industries Among Hosts Of Carly Fiorina Fundraiser

Christina Bellantoni | September 22, 2010, 11:08AM

US Senate candidate Carly Fiorina (R-CA)

Republican Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina will attend a high-dollar fundraiser Thursday night that includes Koch Industries PAC, a conservative megadonor that has been the subject of some high-profile magazine pieces of late.

The Koch brothers have become conservative super-villains for Democrats this year, igniting Democrats in the same way George Soros' spending on liberal causes enrages the right.

According to the invitation for the Thursday night reception at the National Republican Senatorial Committee headquarters near Union Station, hosts -- including Koch -- donated $2,500. It includes a special reception for sponsors Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, NRSC Chairman John Cornyn, Sen. Jon Kyl and the 26 hosts including Koch Industries PAC. The general reception with the Senate Republican caucus follows. Sponsors paid $5,000 per PAC or $2,400 for an individual sponsorship. The plastic surgeons' political action committee, Plastypac, also is a host.

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WA-SEN

The Good Democrat: Patty Murray Quietly Surging In WA-SEN

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 22, 2010, 9:07AM

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

While the political earth shifts around her, Sen. Patty Murray appears to have grounded herself in Washington state. While the national press largely passes her race by, Murray -- who at the start of the summer was, according to conventional wisdom, a Vulnerable Democrat -- appears to have built the momentum she needs to comfortably compete for a third term.

Of course, as must always be said at this point, nothing is set in stone. Murray is up against Dino Rossi, one of the few establishment Republican nominee picks to make it past a tea party primary opponent this year. Rossi was, at one time, one of the brightest stars in NRSC chair John Cornyn's 2010 universe, and the party is expected to keep pumping support Rossi's way as long as things stay close.

And they are close.

If Murray was the Vulnerable Democrat in the original Washington state narrative, Rossi was (in the view of most Republican establishment figures) the ideal Formidable Opponent to defeat her. But as election season has proceeded, that storyline has proven to be more and more far-fetched. Murray, quite simply, is winning while Rossi is losing. And it's been that way for awhile.

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2010 elections

National Dem Committees Raising More Money Than GOP

Eric Kleefeld | September 20, 2010, 6:57PM

Clockwise: Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

The national Democratic Congressional campaign arms are headed into the home stretch of the campaign bringing in more money than their GOP counterparts -- numbers that could potentially make the difference in key races.

On the House side, the DCCC out-raised the NRCC in August, by a margin of $8.32 million for the Dems to $6.64 million for House Republicans. The DCCC remains way ahead in cash on hand, with $39 million to the NRCC's $25.6 million.

For the Senate, the DSCC edged the NRSC in August, with $7.42 million for the Dems to $6.05 million for the GOP. However, the NRSC has slightly more money on hand, with $24.5 million against the DSCC's $22.92 million.

CO-SEN

Slew Of Ads Attack Bennet Over Spending (VIDEOS)

Eric Lach | September 17, 2010, 8:41AM

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Sen. Michael Bennet (D) might want to stick to watching his Netflix this week. Turn on the TV in Colorado, and he's bound to see one of the many, many ads his opponents are attacking him with. The ads come from different groups, but share a common theme: they hit Bennet hard on spending, and on his votes for the stimulus and health care reform.

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DE-SEN

Cornyn: NRSC Sending $42K To O'Donnell (After Washing Hands Of Delaware)

Eric Kleefeld | September 15, 2010, 11:35AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and candidate for U.S. Senate Christine O'Donnell (R-DE)

Remember all that talk last night about how the National Republican Senatorial Committee was cutting bait in the Delaware Senate race, and wouldn't waste its resources backing nominee (and conservative activist) Christine O'Donnell? Well now the NRSC has taken quite a contrary action -- with chairman Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) announcing that the committee is sending her $42,000.

"Let there be no mistake: The National Republican Senatorial Committee - and I personally as the committee's chairman - strongly stand by all of our Republican nominees, including Christine O'Donnell in Delaware," Cornyn said in a statement released just now.

"I reached out to Christine this morning, and as I have conveyed to all of our nominees, I offered her my personal congratulations and let her know that she has our support. This support includes a check for $42,000 - the maximum allowable donation that we have provided to all of our nominees - which the NRSC will send to her campaign today."

A GOP source had previously told us that O'Donnell would have to prove that she is a viable candidate -- and her Tea Party backers would have to fund her -- before the NRSC got involved. This of course immediately sparked a backlash from those same Tea Party activists. But now the NRSC is getting on board with O'Donnell, despite the clearly long odds.

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DE-SEN

Christine O'Donnell Compares Herself To Ronald Reagan (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | September 15, 2010, 9:33AM

Christine O'Donnell

Christine O'Donnell isn't sweating the national Republicans who won't be helping her Delaware Senate bid this fall, because, after all, Ronald Reagan was once a pariah too.

"They also said that Ronald Reagan wasn't electable," O'Donnell said this morning on ABC's "Good Morning America. She called the GOP's whisper campaign against her "Republican cannibalism."

The perennial candidate who has never held political office said she doesn't need the NRSC's help, and believes she can win by raising just $1 million. The Tea Party Express made an appeal to supporters today for cash to help O'Donnell after the GOP's abandonment.

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DE-SEN

National GOP Looks West: NRSC Washing Hands Of Delaware After Christine O'Donnell Win

Christina Bellantoni | September 15, 2010, 12:14AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

The national Republicans who whispered for weeks that Christine O'Donnell was unelectable are done with Delaware.

A National Republican Senatorial Committee source told TPM tonight that the party will be sending money and support elsewhere since O'Donnell, not moderate Rep. Mike Castle (R), is the nominee. O'Donnell, a perennial candidate who has never held political office, trails Democratic nominee Chris Coons.

NRSC officials say that if O'Donnell proves she is viable as a candidate in what is considered to be a blue state, "we would hope Sen. Jim DeMint and the Tea Party Express would invest in her race." If that happens, the NRSC would consider spending for O'Donnell.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

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Christine O'Donnell

Republican Establishment Muted After O'Donnell Win While Democrats Crow

Megan Carpentier | September 14, 2010, 10:00PM

Christine O'Donnell

Usually when a candidate like Christine O'Donnell wins a primary -- and begins the tough slog to a general election -- you expect emails from her party like "MEDIA: Tea Party Express Congratulates Christine O'Donnell !!!". That, however, is not the subject line from the Republican Party's email: It's from the Tea Party Express email.

The TPE message from Chairman Amy Kremer went on to say, "Christine O'Donnell overcame the entire political establishment to achieve victory tonight because she stood for the constitutional conservative principles that voters are craving during this election cycle," and predict her certain victory in November.

A message from Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser, a conservative pro-life women's organization, added that "Christine O'Donnell's come-from-behind victory is evidence that voters across America are hungry for conservative pro-life candidates."

By way of contrast, the National Republican Senatorial Committee's email is below in its entirety:

In reporting on the Delaware Senate Republican primary results, please consider the following response from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC):

"We congratulate Christine O'Donnell for her nomination this evening after a hard-fought primary campaign in Delaware." - Rob Jesmer, NRSC Executive Director

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Ron Wyden

NRSC Says Wyden Has Lost Touch With Voters From The Evergreen State -- But He's From Oregon

Brian Beutler | September 3, 2010, 3:19PM

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

If the NRSC wants to paint Oregon Senator Ron Wyden as an out of touch D.C. Democrat, they're gonna have to try harder.

"Despite his claims that he is 'like Oregon,' it's clear from Ron Wyden's record that he has simply lost touch with his constituents during his 14 years in Washington," reads a recent NRSC press release. "Senator Wyden is a career politician who has championed a reckless economic agenda that has driven our national debt to a staggering $13 trillion and failed to create jobs as the Evergreen State's unemployment has skyrocketed to 10.6 percent."

But it's hard to blame Wyden for abandoning the voters of the Evergreen State, because it's a totally different state from the one he represents in the Senate. Washington is the Evergreen State. Wyden enjoys the distinction of representing the Beaver State, Orgeon.

(H/T: Eugene Weekly)

FL-SEN

NRSC To Pump $2.5 Million Into Florida To Help Rubio

Eric Kleefeld | September 1, 2010, 11:58AM

Marco Rubio (R) and Gov. Charlie Christ (I), candidates for US Senate in Florida

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is stepping up its efforts to elect Marco Rubio in the Senate, the St. Petersburg Times reports, with the national party group committing the legal maximum of $2.5 million to coordinated advertising with his campaign.

A key reason could be that ex-Republican and now independent Gov. Charlie Crist has a cash-on-hand figure of $8 million to Rubio's $4.5 million. The paper recognizes the irony of all this -- the NRSC previously embraced Crist's candidacy for the Republican nomination and tried to stop Rubio's rise, right up until Crist bolted the party to run as an independent when the GOP primary polls went insurmountably in Rubio's direction.

The TPM Poll Average gives Rubio a narrow lead with 35.2%, followed by Crist at 34.7%, and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek at 17.8%.

AK-SEN

Joe Miller Warns DC Establishment To Stay Out Of Alaska During Vote Counts

Christina Bellantoni | August 27, 2010, 3:33PM

Alaska Senate candidate Joe Miller (R)

As elections officials collect absentee ballots and lawyers descend on Alaska, insurgent Senate candidate Joe Miller has a message for the National Republican Senatorial Committee: Back off.

We've been closely following this Republican primary race, the results of which hang in the balance as Miller leads Sen. Lisa Murkowski by 1,668 votes and she's got nothing to do but wait. But the NRSC sent a lawyer to help Murkowski should voting questions arise as absentee ballots are counted, and a new report surfaced today suggesting the state party was secretly supporting the senator despite a promise to stay neutral.

Miller issued a statement accusing Murkowski of trying to "pull an Al Franken" by lawyering up. He warned the NRSC to stay on the sidelines, saying the party committee is intended to elect Republicans, "not to pick favorites amongst those running, nor is it to send lawyers to try to manipulate the outcome."

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Fundraising

Dem Senate Campaign Committee Outraises GOP

Eric Kleefeld | August 20, 2010, 1:18PM

Sens Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

The Democratic Senatorial Committee is maintaining its financial advantage over the National Republican Senatorial Committee -- but only a narrow one -- with more money raised in July and more cash on hand.

The DSCCC raised $4.4 million in July, spent $3.5 million, and has $22.46 million on hand.

The NRSC raised $4.16 million in July, spent $2.6 million, and has $21.1 million on hand.

As the Hotline says: "The numbers show that while the Dems face an uphill battle this year, they have been successful at raising money. The DSCC has outraised the NRSC in 4 of the past 5 months."

NV-SEN

National GOP Sending In Top Press Operative For Sharron Angle

Eric Kleefeld | July 27, 2010, 10:07AM

US Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV)

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is bringing in extra help for Republican nominee Sharron Angle in the Nevada Senate race, with press operative Brian Jones set to advise Angle in her race, as well as Carly Fiorina in California and the to-be-determined GOP nominee in Washington state.

As Jonathan Martin writes: "Jones is a seasoned press hand. In the 2008 cycle, he was initially the communications director for John McCain's presidential campaign, where he worked closely with fellow top aides Terry Nelson and Rob Jesmer - both now top NRSC officials. Jones also worked on President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign."

The TPM Poll Average has Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid leading Angle by 44.0%-43.1%, despite Reid's own unpopularity and the bad economy. This comes largely as a result of Angle's own missteps, her pattern of avoiding the press, and Reid's attacks on her right-wing positions.

NV-SEN

Cornyn: Angle Campaign 'A Work In Progress'

Eric Kleefeld | July 23, 2010, 12:02PM

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV)

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has admitted that work remains to be done on Nevada GOP Senate nominee Sharron Angle's campaign against Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid.

"We continue to work with them, but it's a work in progress," Cornyn told the Hotline on Thursday.

"We've been working with her campaign," Cornyn said. "We're still working it ....While running for election is not rocket science, it does require knowledgeable people. It does require some discipline and that's always a struggle for any first time candidate. While she's not a first time candidate, I think when you're running against the incumbent Majority Leader, this is the, it's the Super Bowl and they're gonna come at you with everything they've got and it would be a challenge for anybody to withstand the negative attacks."

The TPM Poll Average currently gives Reid an edge of 44.0%-43.1%, thanks in large part to recent Angle missteps.

Fundraising

Dem Campaign Organizations Have More Cash Than GOP Counterparts

Eric Kleefeld | July 21, 2010, 10:59AM

Clockwise: Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

The conventional wisdom may well be that the Republicans are poised to make some big gains against the Democrats in the House and Senate this fall. But for now, the Dems' campaign arms remain way ahead in cash on hand that could potentially make a difference in tight races.

The National Republican Congressional Committee just narrowly out-raised the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in June, taking in $9.15 million against the DCCC's $9.02 million. However, the DCCC has a whopping $33.78 million cash on hand, almost double the $17.04 million for the NRCC.

On the Senate side, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee took in $7.1 million in June, more than the $4.03 million for the National Republican Senatorial Committee in June. The DSCC has $21 million on hand, slightly surpassing the $19.7 million on hand for the NRSC.

2010 elections

NRSC Wants To Know Who GOPers Are Liking For President

Christina Bellantoni | July 19, 2010, 1:25PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS), and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

The GOP's Senate campaign arm is gathering data on donors and supporters of Republican candidates by asking not about Senate candidates in 2010, but who they like for president in 2012 (and the polices they want GOP leaders to push this fall). Among the 2012 contenders on the survey? One Sen. John McCain, the party's 2008 presidential nominee. Also gracing the list is McCain running mate Sarah Palin and dark horse contender Sen. John Thune. Not on the list are potential candidates Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA).

National Republican Senatorial Committee political director Chris LaCivita emailed the group's mailing list this weekend to ask about 2012 and the GOP agenda, telling supporters, "Your voice needs to be heard right now."

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