The Club For Growth, the economic right-wing political group known for backing staunch anti-tax candidates in GOP primaries, has selected a new chairman, replacing Pat Toomey: Former Rep. Chris Chocola (R-IN).
Chocola was first elected to Congress in 2002, picking up an open seat for the Republicans, but later lost re-election in 2006 by a 54%-46% to Democrat Joe Donnelly. From his first unsuccessful campaign in 2000 and through his career in Congress, he at times strongly favored total privatization of Social Security, and at others didn’t support privatization.
Another thing here is that the real news isn’t so much Chocola signing on to the Club For Growth, as it is Toomey signing off. Toomey, a former Pennsylvania Congressman, is widely believed to be about to challenge Arlen Specter in the Republican primary for Senator from Pennsylvania, after he’d previously run in 2004 and lost in a 51%-49% squeaker. Toomey is officially leaving the Club to pursue “other opportunities.”
