Should Republican Senate canidates distance themselves from Bush?

[The Duke]

Bush has become wildly unpopular, and has betrayed the base in a number of ways.  In order to win, should Republican Senate, House, and Gubernutorial candidates distance themselves from the President, even becoming openly critical of him?

[bgwah]

No.

[TeePee4Prez]

Yes, but not many of them can without being seen as flip-flops.  Santorum is trying and failing miserably.

[Ben.]

Yes, but not many of them can without being seen as flip-flops.  Santorum is trying and failing miserably.

For once I agree, they can try… but for most their readiness to be closely linked with the President while he was popular, makes it nearly impossible for them to distance themselves unless they have a record of being independently minded like McCain or Voinovich, and in reality very few have.

And its true that Santorum’s attempts to cast himself as “independently minded” have totally failed, simply because he has always been firmly weded to the GOP leadership and the Bush Administration.

If things continue as they are at the moment, there will be a traditional anti-majority party mood next fall, in contrast to the congressional races in 02 and 04 and that could be very bad news for the GOP, even when the seats being contested favour them over the Democrats.           

[A18]

How has Bush "betrayed" the base?

If you consider a 40% approval rating wildly unpopular (which is an incredibly dumb definition), virtually every president is wildly unpopular at some point.

[nini2287]

It depends on the state.  Santorum and  Chafee should.  Kyl and Ensign don't really need to.

[Moooooo]

I voted yes, but IMO, its too late.

[TheresNoMoney]

It depends on the state.  Santorum and  Chafee should.  Kyl and Ensign don't really need to.

Sure about that?

Arizona-45% approval, 52% disapproval
Nevada-40% approval, 57% disapproval

These numbers are from early August, well before the hurriance disaster. I suspect they will be a few points lower in the next poll.

[Moooooo]

Bush has become wildly unpopular, and has betrayed the base in a number of ways.  In order to win, should Republican Senate, House, and Gubernutorial candidates distance themselves from the President, even becoming openly critical of him?

Whats your opinion Ford?

[TheresNoMoney]

I voted yes, but IMO, its too late.

True. The vast majority of Republican Senators (with the exception of Collins, Snowe, Chafee, Specter and maybe McCain) have marched virtually in lockstep with Bush on every vote.

[A18]

Ensign -- Approve 53%, Disapprove 31%

Kyl -- Approve 49%, Disapprove 33%

Neither has anything to worry about.

[nini2287]

It depends on the state.  Santorum and  Chafee should.  Kyl and Ensign don't really need to.

Sure about that?

Arizona-45% approval, 52% disapproval
Nevada-40% approval, 57% disapproval

These numbers are from early August, well before the hurriance disaster. I suspect they will be a few points lower in the next poll.

Bush's numbers probably will rise again by 2006, I was just trying to think of two *potentially* vulnerable red state Senators.  Maybe Capito and Burns would have been better choices.

[Keystone Phil]

Four years ago on this very day, the world was very different. Fast forward a day and our lives changed. Four years ago on this very day, the President wasn't doing all that great in the polls and the midterms were approaching. How did they end up for the President and the GOP?

Anything can happen. It is way too early.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Mark Kennedy will have to. Won't be easy with his voting record though.  All the Democrat needs to do is tie him to Bush and he's toast.

[The Duke]

Four years ago on this very day, the world was very different. Fast forward a day and our lives changed. Four years ago on this very day, the President wasn't doing all that great in the polls and the midterms were approaching. How did they end up for the President and the GOP?

Anything can happen. It is way too early.

We won that election because 60% of the country wanted to invade Iraq.

How has Bush "betrayed" the base?

If you consider a 40% approval rating wildly unpopular (which is an incredibly dumb definition), virtually every president is wildly unpopular at some point.

On nearly every domestic policy except taxes, he has betrayed the base.  Education, health care, energy, transportation.  Its a long list.

Bush has become wildly unpopular, and has betrayed the base in a number of ways.  In order to win, should Republican Senate, House, and Gubernutorial candidates distance themselves from the President, even becoming openly critical of him?

Whats your opinion Ford?

I think the president is fast becomng a liability to down ticket candidates.  They'd do well to define themselves as independent of the White House.

[TheresNoMoney]

Mark Kennedy will have to. Won't be easy with his voting record though.  All the Democrat needs to do is tie him to Bush and he's toast.

Kennedy votes with Bush/Delay/Rove 97% of the time.

That alone should make him toast in Minnesota if the DFL has their act together.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Correct. So far I have yet to hear any argument about why Kennedy is such a great candidate when the most he's ever gotten in his own congressional district is 57%, about the same that Bush got last year. That isn't impressive.

[A18]

How has Bush "betrayed" the base?

If you consider a 40% approval rating wildly unpopular (which is an incredibly dumb definition), virtually every president is wildly unpopular at some point.

Education, health care, energy, transportation.

Social Security, tax reform, judges, CAFTA.

[TheresNoMoney]

Kennedy got 54% and underperformed Bush in his district in 2004.

[© tweed]

It depends where they're running.

In Rhode Island?  Yes, of course.
In Montana?  No, of course not.
In Pennsylvania?  In Ohio?  Tough call.

[Moooooo]

In Ohio?  Tough call.

Ohio is a no brainer.

Approve 37%    Disapprove 60%

In PA its too late for Santorum to jump ship.  Besides that, Santorum is a very loyal person and does not sway from his beliefs.  Thats one reason why I respect the man.  He's no wish washy moderate.  Nor does he wait to poll before making a decision.  I like that.

[The Duke]

How has Bush "betrayed" the base?

If you consider a 40% approval rating wildly unpopular (which is an incredibly dumb definition), virtually every president is wildly unpopular at some point.

Education, health care, energy, transportation.

Social Security, tax reform, judges, CAFTA.

CAFTA is small potatoes.  CAFTA:NAFTA::Gary Coleman:Shaquille O'Neil

Talk to me about jduges when we see who he picks to replace O'Connor.

I don't count his aboninable failure to sell Social Security reform.  And when Santorum stuck his neck out to push for Social Security reform, what did Bush do?  Let Santorum hang out there by himself instead of helping Rick make the sale.

In the part of my original post you didn't quote here, I admitted he has kept faith on taxes.

[Keystone Phil]

We won that election because 60% of the country wanted to invade Iraq.

And any event can happen between now and Election day 2006. It's still too early to tell.

[The Dowager Mod]

NO!
They should embrace their leader and let lots of him rub off on them!

[Speed of Sound]

NO!
They should embrace their leader and let lots of him rub off on them!

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