Wasinger Campaign Death Watch
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Going out on a limb today to predict the ultimate demise of the Wasinger campaign, after the Right Kansas blog posted 4th quarter fundraising numbers…in short, Wasinger isn’t keeping pace. In fact, he’s now in 3rd place behind Jim Barnett and in danger of splitting the conservative vote with Wasinger, meaning the moderate Barnett would take the seat.
Pressure will begin to mount on Wasinger. His biggest problem is that he will have to define himself to voters, since he’s still a relatively unknown quantity. The “carpetbagger” issue isn’t doing him any favors either. By and large,the fact that he’s been living in Virginia for so long is simply not good. Just ask Todd Tiahrt. Jerry Moran is going to have a field day with that.
Likewise, with Huelskamp controlling a massive warchest of nearly half a million bucks, defining Rob Wasinger as a carpetbagger (or anything else) is going to be very easy.
Make no mistake about it, Wasinger is working hard, trying to overcome that hurdle, but why? What does Rob Wasinger bring to the table that Tim Huelskamp doesn’t? Wasinger fans, shoot me an email via the anonymous form to your right (over there)—–> and I’ll be happy to post your submissions. In the meantime, it simply looks as though Rob Wasinger just wants to be back in Congress where the action is. Nothing wrong with that, but on it’s own, it’s hardly a reason to cast a vote for the guy.
Experience? Please. Voters don’t care. See “Barack Obama” for my take on that.
The numbers don’t lie – Wasinger is fading fast, and he’s having to spend a lot of cash just to keep up. This spells doom for any campaign, no matter if you attended Harvard and worked for a Senator-about-to-be-governor, or if you’re anyone else.
Look at the bright side, Rob – your old boss is going to need a chief of staff in Topeka. I know, I know…it’s a long way from Virginia, but you’ll get used to it. And the housing prices are so much cheaper!
Can Huelskamp become something more than a one issue candidate? WE GET IT, YOUR PRO-LIFE. I would like to say all the Republican candidates in the First are, well at least the ones that actually stand a chance. Lets here what else you want to do. Not all your prospective voters are Teabags, some of us vote every cycle, even when the Country is at its high point. You can here those things from Mr. Wasinger.
In Huelskamp’s defense, his message – whatever it is – is resonating with donors.
Wasinger can call for the resignation of Janet Napolitano all he wants, but in my opinion, most in the Big First see those things for what they are – ploys for attention.
My take on the race is that Wasinger jumped into the game one election cycle too soon. He should have stayed tight with Brownback, propelled him to victory, and then let the new Governor set him for electoral success as a native Kansan. At the end of all this, he may still have a shot at that, depending on whether or not Brownback still respects him.
Personally, I think the difference between Huelskamp and Wasinger is “authenticity.” Regardless of his roots in Kansas, Wasinger appears to be parachuting back into the state just for the purpose of getting elected. No matter what, voters just don’t like that. It’s a tactical mistake that could easily be rectified by spending a few years working here again.
He can be viable – but he has to get his feet firmly under himself first.