Former Congressman Jim Kolbe is now supporting Paul Babeu.
Kolbe acknowledged he is known as more of a moderate Republican than Babeu, who is known as a conservative with a hard-line approach to border security. But actually, Kolbe said, they agree on most issues.
Does Kolbe's support move the Moderate wing of the party toward Babeu more than it drives the Conservative wing further away from Babeu?
Since the moderates already have Gosar, it's unlikely that they are going to move toward Babeu. However, conservatives who viewed Babeu as a conservative who happens to be gay will now start to question his conservative credentials because of Kolbe's support. Plus Kolbe's show of support put the story in the news for one more news cycle.
Maybe Planned Parenthood or the SEIU can endorse Babeu next week and make it a hat trick.
File this under "things that don't help." Sadly, Kolbe's account of the alleged similarities between their policy views is just divorced from reality. They don't really have much in common politically. I'm racking my brain for some other explanation for the endorsement. Ideas, anyone?
Posted by: Geyer | February 23, 2012 at 01:20 PM
Kolbe will do wonders for Babeu on the immigration issue. (being completely sarcastic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQmdBbjTsBQ
Posted by: Neo48 | February 23, 2012 at 01:27 PM
Geyer: Easy explaination - Kolbe does not want Babeu to be a Member of Congress.
Posted by: Benson | February 23, 2012 at 01:54 PM
Kolbe's support is a great example of bigotry in reverse. Instead of saying homosexuality or other some other aspect of a politician's life is no one's business, he's now admitting the opposite. He's walked right into the "gay agenda" trap: that a candidate's sexuality is actually more important than that candidate's political views.
Posted by: Son of September | February 23, 2012 at 03:00 PM
While I'm just an observer of politics and not a pro, I'd be amazed if Kolbe's support as stated either hurts or helps. Conservatives understand why Kolbe would support; as SoS says, it's all about sexual preference. And libs will see it the same way; no one will be persuaded to join.
Posted by: George | February 23, 2012 at 03:45 PM
Son of September: That's all the left does. They scream, "Racism, homophobia, sexism," blah, blah, blah. And then they practice what they "preach" against. And the mainstream media not only lets them get away with it, they are complicent.
Posted by: RonJ | February 23, 2012 at 03:47 PM
Babeu stood with one of the authors of amnesty to tell us that "the plan is perfect Senator" so it is little wonder that one of the other authors of amnesty now stands with Babeu.
Posted by: Goodyear GOP | February 24, 2012 at 01:41 AM
Kolbe's lost it. I saw Babeu's dating profile posted in one of the stories. It's not exactly a match.com type profile. It's not about dating at all, is it? Whether gay or straight, isn't a revelation like this more a reason to RESIGN from Congress than to RUN for Congress?
Posted by: Stewie | February 24, 2012 at 11:56 AM