August 28, 2009 09:33 PM UTC

Maybe Conservatives Really Don't Want Norton?

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• by: Colorado Pols

Yesterday afternoon, we discussed rumors that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) was committing resources to still-undeclared Senate candidate Jane Norton, which would (if true) likely have the effect of clearing the GOP primary field on her behalf.

Interestingly, the discussion about this was originating on conservative Colorado political blogs–we were immediately reminded of the faux “concern” rightie blogs displayed after gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis’ now-infamous voicemail message was leaked…on the same right-wing blogs. Our first assumption was that all this traffic about the NRSC and Norton yesterday was of similarly duplicitous origins.

But this morning, to be fair to our colleagues on the right, we’re second-guessing that. Further commentary today from the “People’s Press Collective” is relatively convincing:

As we previously alluded to, there does indeed appear to be a plot underway among a tiny group of elitists (namely Bill Owens, Bob Beauprez, and John Cornyn) to silence every Republican activist in the state of Colorado by coronating Jane Norton (who has been absent from grassroots events and silent on running for Senate until only days ago) as the candidate for U.S. Senate. CompleteColorado.com has unearthed evidence that the NRSC is actively helping pro-tax candidate Jane Norton and appears to be preparing to meddle in Colorado’s Senate primary.

This isn’t entirely without precedent for NRSC chairman John Cornyn and Co.. Cornyn’s decision to back Florida Gov. Charlie Crist over conservative Marco Rubio set off a massive backlash from outraged conservatives nationwide. Only weeks ago, the NRSC made fools of themselves in an oddly familiar story from the New Hampshire primary. Cornyn and the NRSC attempted to back Kelly Ayotte, an untested candidate who has never actually stood for election (sound familiar?) and had to back away after stronger than expected backlash from New Hampshire Republicans.

Ben DeGrow points out that Jane Norton’s fundraising record isn’t exactly stellar which somewhat undercuts the rationale for Norton’s candidacy being put forward in some quarters. This leads to the question of what John Cornyn felt was missing from our Senate race. Was he afraid we would pick a fiscally conservative candidate and felt to need to seek out and recruit one of the small handful of Republicans that endorsed Referenda C and D?

Sounds like sincere fighting words, wouldn’t you say? Maybe not an act after all? A poll follows.

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