Republicans are finally cluing into the fact that The Donald might be killing their chances of holding on to the Senate, not to mention the House, in 2016. Democrats only need four pick ups with Republicans defending 24 Senate seats while Dems defend 10. Enter, the Trump factor. Ben Kamisar
reports:
“I think it’s pretty clear that some of [Trump’s] more dramatic proposals on immigration will certainly affect races like the Nevada senate race in particular," said one Nevada GOP strategist.
The debate over Trump's immigration stance “will, by its very nature spill down to races,” the strategist said.
Aww, a reimagining of the trickle-down effect. Cute! And not just in Nevada.
Hispanic voters made up 16 percent of eligible voters in Nevada in 2014, 17 percent in Florida and 10 percent in Illinois according to the Pew Research Center. The group also makes up about 14 percent in Colorado, but Republicans haven’t coalesced around a major candidate for that seat.
Republicans ranging from Sens. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire to Mark Kirk of Illinois to John McCain of Arizona have already been queried about Trump's positions.
Naturally, the Democrats are all over it, feverishly working to make sure The Donald's comments stick like glue to the GOP.
Sadie Weiner, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s spokeswoman, told The Hill that the group is happy to sit back and see how the Trump effect plays out. [...]
“He is doing most of the work for us in terms of going out there and saying these racist, offensive to all people comments and candidates are getting asked about it on the trail. People are drawing their own dots,” she said.
Um, yeah. Let's just hope Weiner's lying.