#ncpol: Thom Tillis trying to thwart Dan Forest’s gubernatorial bid?
That’s the skinny coming from behind several POWERFUL closed doors in DC and Raleigh. (As if we needed ANOTHER reason to HATE Thom Tilli$$$$.)
Why, you ask, would this amoral, unprincipled *genius* be attempting something like this? I’m told that Tillis and his team are concerned that Dan Forest — of all people — will drag down the GOP ticket in North Carolina in 2020. (Tillis is up for reelection that year. If you recall, he’ll be the 2nd most unpopular GOP senator on the ballot.)
I am also told that an independent expenditure (IE) worth $2 million is being organized to fund this opposition effort against Forest. The IE will reportedly be managed by a Charlotte-based GOP fundraiser with ties to Tillis’s 2014 campaign and the RNC.
Any opposition effort worth its salt will need a candidate. And who have these plotters selected? According to my sources, none other than state Rep. Holly Grange (R-Wilmington). I am told Tillis himself reached out to her personally with the $2 million promise.
My sources also tell me that Chris LaCivita — the mastermind behind the spectacular 2016 Pat McCrory campaign — has been lined up to run this reported challenge to Forest.
This is all very cloak-and-dagger right now. But there are just too many powerful, well-placed tongues wagging about this — with the same details — in Raleigh and DC to just let this go.
I’m pretty sure there are not a lot of folks willing to go in front of a TV camera and talk about this. Sometimes it’s just nice to call folks out. (Throw a few things out on the clothesline and let them hang out there a little while.)
Just another reason to dump Tillis!
Tillis should follow the precedent set by his predecessor….One Term and Out!
Tillis will be reelected. Once in office, the wishes of the voters are irrelevant. If I’m wrong and they have any effect at all, they will lower his likelihood of being reelected from 98% to 97%. Big money buys elections (look at the buy outs in the Third District race), and as an incumbent, Tillis has access to unlimited money.
Reality sucks.
Tillis won by 1pt last time….. that margin has long vanished. W/o a challenger in the primary the Seat will go to a Democrat.
To be fair, what I should have said was Tillis will win the primary. So long as he has at least two opponents, he wins. The opponents will split the anti-establishment vote, and Tillis is in. His consultants have already lined up one challenger, and another is ready to announce. Tillis’ main issue is probably the same as Murphy/Perry: They are so uninspiring to voters that the voters will sit at home instead of going to the polls and voting. Enough of them may sit out the election that the Democrat gets elected. Trump’s coattails may not matter in 2020 enough since all three are or were never-Trumpers.
Since you’re on the subject of being “fair” — there’s evidence of anti-Trumpness against Tillis and Perry. But where is your evidence on Murphy? Do you think Mark Meadows, Trump’s best friend in DC, would endorse a never -Trumper? Seriously?
Dump both of these wannabes. Both are paid for political phonies.
Where is McCrory when you need him?
McCrory is right where we need him to be. Out of government.
Any insight on what relationship the NCGOP Chair candidate, Whatley, might have with Tillis, et al?
I’m still laughing about the line that Tillis is concerned about Forest bringing down the GOP ticket? Trump and Forest will BE the strength of NC’s 2020 GOP ticket. Tillis will be out there on his own, and I doubt he will beat a strong Dem opponent. He’s alienated far too many constituencies. Perhaps he’s already lining up his excuses.
I feel there are strings in this…. according to udders that know…. certain Congressional reps are “feeling WH pressure ” to back Whattle. Whuttle will not aid Tillis as the WH may think….Trump needs to do his job and we can do ours. And congressional fence sitters better grab some tweezers as they need to stay there or get on board w/ the Cleaning Crew. The grease splatter from wet drops of Truth not only is all over the outgoing leadership… but some potential Tillis challengers …. who now refuse to help the clean up.
Just another reason to work hard to dump Tillis in the 2020 primary, and if that fails, to vote Constitution Party in November.
Dan Forest is an asset to the ticket. It is Tillis that is the drag on the GOP ticket.
Dan Forest for Governor 2020; Anybody but Tillis for Senator 2020
Tillis will lose in the primary to the candidate who will announce this week in Raleigh.
That man will then ride Trump into office.
So will Forest into Governors office.
Holly Grange said absolutely not to Tillis proxies.
I think it’s the other way around. Tillis is dragging down the GOP in NC, not Dan Forest. Forest and Trump are what will win in 2020!