The leader of the GOP Senate campaigns Sen. John Cornyn said this afternoon that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) shouldn’t get too excited about Sharron Angle winning the Republican nomination to challenge him this fall. As we’ve been reporting, the Reid camp is plenty happy voters chose Angle since Democrats believe they can paint her as out of the mainstream.
Cornyn, National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman, said the November election in Nevada will be a referendum on “single party power” in Washington.
“I don’t think this is any day for Harry to be giddy or popping champagne corks,” Cornyn (R-TX) said on ABC’s Top Line. Cornyn dodged several questions from ABC’s political team about some of Angle’s more surprising positions, and said the party has to “respect the right of primary voters to select our nominee.” He hadn’t officially endorsed Sue Lowden, but the party’s leaders preferred her to Angle. Now, Cornyn told ABC, “We are solidly behind Sharron Angle.”
But could Cornyn be a bit worried about Angle’s positions? He mentioned that she’s a relative newcomer, a similar take to when he called Rand Paul a “novice” when the GOP was caught off guard following Paul’s rocky debut a few weeks ago.
Cornyn said he’s tried to reach Angle and got her voicemail, saying that candidates who win contested primaries “may or may not want our help, but we’re here if they want it.” Cornyn said he wouldn’t be speaking with Angle about policy, but instead would make sure that she has the team of campaign staff and pollsters in place.
“We want to make sure they have all the resources they need to put their best foot forward,” Cornyn said. “Winning elections is not rocket science but it does take some discipline.”
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