After publicly noting (with a straight face)during the run-up of the $700 Billion Wall Street Bail-Out the horrendous failures of the Bush Administration, Rep. Paul Ryan found it politically expedient just over one week away from Election Tuesday to pound a wedge between himself and the McCain campaign trainwreck.
AlterNet Excerpt:
The prospect of defeat has unleashed what insiders describe as an "every man for himself" culture within the McCain campaign, with aides in a "circular firing squad" as blame is assigned.
We’ve now seen that same desperation in Ryan’s latest comments tearing into the style and substance of McCain’s campaign. In light of recent polls showing the Republican presidential ticket trailing behind in Wisconsin, Ryan has imitated Sarah Palin’s apparent dissatisfaction with the top of the ticket and has seemingly “gone rogue.”
Globe and Mail Excerpt:
Amid reports that Sarah Palin has "gone rogue" - ignoring advisers and slamming her party's campaign tactics…….
Ryan too ignored advice from his campaign aides by spending over a million dollars on ads to defeat the William Proxmire-like challenger, Marge Krupp. This despite some observers insisting Ryan is unbeatable.
Wisconsin State Journal Excerpt:
"My pollsters told me not to bother doing this," Ryan said.
To counter any possibility of losing, he is presenting himself to the public in television ads for the first time since his re-election in 2000, but this time his ads are running in areas outside of the district.
Wisconsin State Journal Excerpt:
Krupp has not run any TV ads of her own and has raised $100,000, compared with Ryan's $1.7 million this cycle.
She doesn't have Ryan's riches, or the backing of the special interests like he does.
Excerpt:
"I think that there's only one reason he would put a million dollars into this campaign: He's a little nervous," Wineke said. "Why would you do it otherwise?"
4 comments:
If Ryan were deperate, he wouldn't be spending outside the district - He'll win 58 - 42.
Democrats have a history of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory so I'm not taking anything for granted. Ryan's spending outside the district serves two purposes - one is psychological. The numbers are closer in this race than in previous races so spending outside the district creates the aura the numbers aren't close at all - that he has the confidence in an easy win and the luxury of money to do it. That's what campaigns are all about.
If Ryan weren't worried, he would have been doing what he's done in the past - and spent nothing.
Except he wants to run statewide. That is why he is spending a million, with a good chunk outside of the district.
I agree - that's reason number two. My guess is, Ryan will run for Kohl's senate seat when he retires of possibly sooner.
Democrats need to be working on this and grooming one of their own.
But it's all moot if Ryan loses this one. It's all on the line right now, whether people think he's unbeatable or not.
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