Money Dump into Wyoming--A Report

Facing the prospect of losing a congressional seat in Wyoming, the NRCC dumped $250,000 into Barbara Cubin's campaign over the weekend.   The money will be used for adds against Gary Trauner, already very negative. In addition, Cheney will once again visit Wyoming on her behalf, this coming saturday, at a high school in Laramie.

This is a report on this development, and includes some excerpts showing the "mood" of WY voters, largely Republican.  See the Casper Star Tribune at http://www.casperstartribune.net for more coverage.

Trauner is now statistically tied with Cubin.  Is it too late for Babs?  Join me below the fold, and take the poll

Trying to minimize the loss of House seat, the Republicans now have to defend in Wyoming, the VP's "home state" (bs, but that's another diary).  The $241,078 dumped into Cubin's campaign will be used to run adds that call Gary Trauner "wrong for Wyoming" because, literally, he was born outside Wyoming and lives in the librul stronghold near Jackson Wyoming.  Her campaign literature is all negative, and Wyoming voters have noticed.

The new money comes at a time when the "national republicans are not happy where she is polling right now", said Nathan Gonzales, political editor of the Rothenberg Political Report.  Cubin is polling in the mid-40's and "that's not a great position to be in a week before the election" he said. Cubin is at 44% and Trauner at 40%, within the 4-point MOE, according to the Cheyenne-based Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

And, to make things worse for her, there is a new group of people called "Republicans for Trauner"... but NRCC spokeman Ed Patru said "we're not concerned we're going to lose the race, absolutely not....we're trying to ensure Cubin wins with a decisive margin to discourage other pro-tax, carpetbagging liberals from running against her in the future"  How's that for respect, especially since Cubin was born in California and Cheney in Nebraska?

Letters to the editor in the Casper Star Tribune are running about 2:1 against Cubin.  Here's a choice one:

"Editor:

During her time in the U.S. Congress, how many penis-patterned cookies did U.S. Rep Barbara Cubin give to her colleagues?  How many pictures of their crotches did she take and display in prominent places?  How many extra rafts does she need to carry the booze she requires for her float trips? "

Her efforts to defend herself, and speak about her record, dissolve into the same old tired lines, that Trauner is dangerous for Wyoming and he will raise taxes.  CAn't wait for Cheney to say that Babs is the single most important person to stopping al queda.

Please see Kos here for more details, especially on the "slap heard round the state":
http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...

•  Support Garry

  http://www.traunerforcongress.com/

  Get some Wyoming folks onto his web site if you can please.

  by lightnessofbeing on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:00:21 AM PDT

  •  i added him to 13 search engines

    if people with Wyoming blogs can add a link or blog about him a bit more it will help get his name at the top of the blog engines.

    by lightnessofbeing on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:13:06 AM PDT

•  Tip Jar

  Thanks, we need it out here in Wyoming!

  by DrKate on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:04:36 AM PDT

•  penis-patterned cookies

  WTF?  Did I miss something?

  by Brother Maynard on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:07:48 AM PDT

  •  Unbelievable, but true

    everyone in Wyoming remembers this...when she was a state legislator she did this and the pictures, too.  So, WTF is she doing representing Wyoming?  She can hardly put together a sentence.  That's why Trauner is such a threat...articulate, bright, honest, willing to try.  And above the negative advertising, including denouncing the "slap" issue add that was recently aired against babs.

    by DrKate on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:12:55 AM PDT

    •  Speaking of idiots

      Ezni is about as bright as a rock. I had the displeasure of meeting him when he was on the trail when he first ran. I tried to talk to him about some issues, and he grunted at me (and this was at a very small meet-and-greet with all of 15 people present... and I was only there because I worked at the cafe.) His wife seems bright - but I have to wonder about that as she obviously married him. (sorry, catty but true.)

      by chainsaw mary on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:38:23 AM PDT

      •  Thomas isn't the brightest bulb, either n/t

        by DrKate on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:39:39 AM PDT

•  As a Wyoming native

  I really hope the state gives Babblin' Babs the boot. That woman is completely worthless, and I think a lot of voters are starting to see that.

  With all the races going on right now, I'm saddened to see this one get swept under the carpet. A seat is a seat, and Trauner is within striking distance, yet the DNNC et al won't funnel more funds to his campaign. Maybe there are just a few of us who would see a Trauner victory as a major slap in the face to Cheney and the rest of his flying monkeys.

  by chainsaw mary on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:35:00 AM PDT

•  Dr. Kate, are you

  seeing an uptick in Trauner ads? He's gotten alot of dough from the netroots of late. Has he gotten any endorsements - who is the Casper paper endorsing?

  As a former Wyomingite and with family still there, usually the anti-Jackson thing works, but people are really sick of Cubin. She is proof that a one party system will eventually rot... and she is rot. My Dad says even the ultra-conservatives he knows can't stand her.

  by AnneElizabeth on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:52:03 AM PDT

  •  Yes

    RAdio, local newspapers, TV and he's still covering ground meeting people.  He's also got good mailers and has a good campaign.  He also is energizing a lot of people, including republicans, to for once speak up for themselves

    by DrKate on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:55:38 AM PDT

    •  Don't know about ads . . .

      but I can tell you that Gary was in Laramie last night, firing up the Dems (and a few disaffected Republicans, too) to help GOTV next week.

      Gary is a truly gifted speaker. He made the crowd roar!

      by Waterlaw99 on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 03:44:21 PM PDT