Cuccinelli Campaign Blames Jindal, RGA For Loss: They Blew It I think this is one of those things that is sort of true, but not in the way people think its true. A lot of people are blaming the RGA, the RNC, and wealthy Republican donors who typically donate to Republican candidates for not donating much to Cuccinelli this cycle. Which in turn made him prey to McAuliffes huge fundraising; Cuccinelli was outspent, I believe, 25-1. (But Ive also seen 10-1; Im not sure.). I think Cuccinellis people are right that these donors blew it. Had they known the election was not un-winnable, but would turn out to be pretty much winnable, they would have and certainly should have donated more. They did not foresee how animating and potent Obamacare would turn out to be in the closing weeks of the campaign. Had they known these things -- had they been smart enough to predict the future on this point -- they would have invested more heavily in a three-point race. A big spend can probably put a dent in a three-point race, and maybe even turn it into a win. Cuccinelli was undoubtedly hurt by the shutdown, which of course was widely blamed on Republicans. Personally, at no point during my own support of the shutdown, did I ever think to think This may hurt Cuccinelli in Virginia. My sole focus was on its effect on the 2014 midterms. My belief is/was that the public would forget the shutdown by 2014. And as far as Obamacare: While many of us predicted Obamacare would be bad, I dont think many of us predicted it would be this bad this quickly. I did not expect a Spectacular Failure on the easiest part of Obamacare. On Day One! Not on Day Fifty. But on Day One! I think its ultimately true that if the RGA, RNC, and the Republican donor class had invested more heavily in Cuccinellis bid, he may have won.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 18:08:11 +0000