6/10/14, "House Majority Leader Cantor defeated in primary," AP, Alan Suderman, Richmond
"House Majority Leader
Eric Cantor was defeated Tuesday by a little-known economics professor
in Virginia's Republican primary, a stunning upset and major victory for
the tea party.
Cantor is the second-most powerful member of the U.S. House and was seen by some as a possible successor to the House speaker.
His
loss to Dave Brat, a political novice with little money marks a huge
victory for the tea party movement, which supported Cantor just a few
years ago.
Brat had been a thorn in Cantor's
side on the campaign, casting the congressman as a Washington insider
who isn't conservative enough. Last month, a feisty crowd of Brat
supporters booed Cantor in front of his family at a local party
convention.
His message apparently scored well with voters in the 7th District.
"There
needs to be a change," said Joe Mullins, who voted in Chesterfield
County Tuesday. The engineering company employee said he has friends who
tried to arrange town hall meetings with Cantor, who declined their
invitations,.
Tiffs between the GOP's
establishment and tea party factions have flared in Virginia since tea
party favorite Ken Cuccinelli lost last year's gubernatorial race.
Cantor supporters have met with stiff resistance in trying to wrest
control of the state party away from tea party enthusiasts, including in
the Cantor's home district.
Brat teaches at
Randolph-Macon College, a small liberal arts school north of Richmond.
He raised just more than $200,000 for his campaign, according to the
most recent campaign finance reports.
Beltway-based
groups also spent heavily in the race. The American Chemistry Council,
whose members include many blue chip companies, spent more than $300,000
on TV ads promoting Cantor.
It's the group's only independent
expenditure so far this election year. Political arms of the American
College of Radiology, the National Rifle Association and the National
Association of Realtors also spent money on ads to promote Cantor.
Brat
offset the cash disadvantage with endorsements from conservative
activists like radio host Laura Ingraham, and with help from local tea
party activists angry at Cantor.
Much of the campaign centered on immigration, where critics on both sides have recently taken aim at Cantor.
Brat
has accused the House majority leader of being a top cheerleader for
"amnesty" for immigrants in the U.S. illegally. Cantor has responded
forcefully by boasting in mailers of blocking Senate plans "to give
illegal aliens amnesty."...
Cantor, a former state legislator, was elected to Congress in 2000. He became majority leader in 2011."
.
No comments:
Post a Comment