Sue Lowden's first on-camera attempt at damage control was such a complete disaster that Danny Tarkanian, her closest rival for the GOP nomination, is now using it against her. Greg Sargent:
Danny Tarkanian, a Nevadan who runs a real estate business and is challenging Lowden, launched his first direct chickens-for-checkups attack on Lowden today, pointing to it as proof that she doesn’t have what it takes to take on Harry Reid in a general election.
The occasion for this move: Lowden gave an interview to a local TV station on chickens-for-checkups that has only landed her deeper in the manure. In attempting to explain herself, she looked a bit like a chicken who had begun to cross the road only to realize a truck was bearing down on her.
The Tarkanian campaign is circulating video of the interview in an email that says: “Watch this video and ask yourself if Sue Lowden is prepared to run against Harry Reid.”
Tarkanian is right. The interview really was amazingly bad. Watch for yourself here.
Nonetheless, Tarkanian needs to be careful. Even though our most recent poll shows 81% of Nevadans think Lowden is out to lunch with her Chickens for Checkups idea, Republicans are divided. 23% of GOPers say Lowden's idea makes them more likely to vote for her, compared with 28% who say it makes them less likely, and I'd bet my bottom dollar that the Republicans who like her idea are more likely to vote in the primary.