Only four of the 26 Democratic challengers for Congress and governorships endorsed and bankrolled by the left-wing MoveOn PAC were elected Tuesday, but some suffered from that organization’s support.
In Arizona, former Flagstaff Mayor Paul Babbitt was embarrassed before his rural constituents in his campaign for Congress when Republican Rep. Rick Renzi mentioned MoveOn’s endorsement of Babbitt. Renzi had been considered one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents but won easily with 59 percent of the vote.
In Minnesota, missing children’s advocate Patty Wetterling’s campaign for Congress suffered when Republican ads attacked her for accepting MoveOn’s endorsement and cash. Republican Rep. Mark Kennedy was re-elected with 54 percent.
It says something significant about your organization when just the mention of it can be damaging. I doubt that MoveOn will realize this, however.