Rob Simmons: NRSC Enamored with Self-funders

[Sam Spade]

I guess that maybe another candidate might have ran better in California than Fiorina, but I wouldn't bet on it - Fiorina ran pretty much as generic R, and besides, didn't really self-fund much (note that who did self-fund performed worse...).  Still wouldn't have won.

As for Connecticut, we're basically talking the same issue. 

Just FYI, remember that in Illinois, Kirk got 1) an incredibly weak opponent; 2) an Illinois Dem party that doesn't mind him being in *that much*, especially if Giannoulias' legal problems are serious; 3) a year in 2010 where the swing in Illinois (and the upper Midwest in general) was quite stronger than the nation as a whole.

Pennsylvania is not comparable to California or Connecticut.

[Sam Spade]

Didn't the NRSC spend a crapton of money in California? Like eight frickin' million dollars?  That's not an unknown fact, right?

I think anyone who pays attention to politics knows it.  Of course, spending $8 million in CA is akin to throwing money down the drain regardless of who is the Republican (self-funder or not).