(cross-posted at BlueNC)
The NRCC is planning to make last-ditch efforts to buy ad time for some of its incumbents and hopefuls--but Robin Hayes won't be one of the beneficiaries.
By day's end, Hayes had to deny a report that his own party had forsaken him. But there's at least one sign that national Republicans aren't as invested as they planned to be – they've backed off buying television time to run an independent ad in the 8th Congressional District race.
Well, in a way, it's a good thing--we in Charlotte are being subjected to enough slime as it is from McCain. Nonetheless, the fact that the NRCC isn't cutting an ad for him is stunning.
Think about it, folks. You're a 10-year incumbent in a marginal district. You're not only getting the fight of your political life from the same guy that nearly dumped you two years ago, but you're also in a state that Obama has made a prime target. Conventional wisdom would suggest that Hayes needs all the help he can get. You'd think this race would be a top priority for the NRCC--especially considering that they're apparently leaving Michele Bachmann, Marilyn Musgrave and Tom Feeney to fend for themselves.
And yet, U.S. News and World Report's Paul Bedard wrote in his blog yesterday that Hayes is one of five Republican incumbents that have been written off as lost causes (along with Feeney, Tim Walberg, Don Young and Jon Porter). However, an NRCC spokesman denies it.
But a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee dismissed any suggestion that party leadership had discounted Hayes.
"Absolutely not. Robin Hayes is well positioned for re-election," Ken Spain said. "Any reference to the contrary is simply not based on fact or any relevant data. This has become a race about Robin Hayes and Democrats in Washington."
Really? Then how come you aren't telling us why? Looks to me that Hayes is about to find out how the people of his district felt when he threw them under the bus on CAFTA--and that we're about to say hello to Congressman Larry Kissell.