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Yet McDaniel has failed to put the contest away, even as Tea Party-aligned groups are pouring money into Mississippi to deny Cochran a seventh term. The insurgent has made a series of tactical errors, while Cochran and his establishment allies well-funded and prepared for combat have been eviscerating McDaniel on the airwaves.

The race has also been roiled over the past week by a bizarre incident in which a pro-McDaniel blogger was arrested for taking an illicit photo of Cochrans bedridden wife, Rose, who has dementia and lives in a nursing home.

There are few reliable public polls in Mississippi. Strategists in the state say the race has been close, with Cochran enjoying a slight advantage, although they sensed that McDaniel had been gaining steam before the nursing home episode.

Conservative groups still searching for their first victory in knocking off an entrenched incumbent this year are doubling down to prop up McDaniel in the run-up to the June 3 primary.

This is it, said political analyst Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of the Rothenberg Political Report. For all the early hype about the [Senate Minority Leader Mitch] McConnell primary challenge, the Cochran race has always been the best opportunity for the libertarian-slash-tea party folks.

Citizens United and ForAmerica will soon begin advertising in Mississippi, joining an array of conservative organizations backing McDaniel. Together, Tea Party-aligned groups have spent nearly $2.4 million compared to $1.8 million invested by pro-Cochran groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, according to Federal Election Commission data compiled by the Sunlight Foundation.

L. Brent Bozell III said his group, ForAmerica, has decided to get behind McDaniel this week with a six-figure buy, focused on digital advertising.

Im not looking for scalps, but I am looking for conservative victories, and Cochran remains a top target, he said. He campaigns as a conservative and governs as a moderate.

David Bossie, president of Citizens United, whose political arm has backed McDaniel since January, plans to focus on the final stretch. Beginning Thursday, Bossie said, he will spend $175,000 for statewide cable and broadcast advertisements a significant buy for the modestly sized tea party group.

This is about Mississippi voters, who want a conservative leader in Washington raising Mississippis voice to be with the Ted Cruz/Mike Lee part of the party, not part of the establishment and part of the problem, Bossie said, referring to the combative senators from Texas and Utah.

Read the rest here:
Tea party makes its last stand in Mississippi, targeting longtime Sen. Thad Cochran

So far, the tea party has notched few victories in the 2014 Republican primaries. Republican incumbents aren't taking anything for granted. But the biggest test comes June 3 in Mississippi.

So far this primary season, insurgent Republican candidates have little to show for their efforts in major races. Matt Bevin (Kentucky), Bryan Smith (Idaho), and Greg Brannon (North Carolina) all lost by wide margins in their primaries to better funded, GOP establishment-backed candidates.

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The only challenger with tea party credentials to win a Senate or House primary so far is Ben Sasse of Nebraska. But Mr. Sasse, an Ivy League-educated university president, clearly does not aspire to be the next Ted Cruz. Hes already pledged to play nice with Republican leaders in the Senate.

Already, too, its clear that establishment Republicans have learned the lessons of 2010 and 2012, when undisciplined insurgents cost the party Senate seats and likely the majority. And they have acted on those lessons.

This also holds true in Mississippi, where on June 3, a strong tea party-backed challenger presents the biggest threat this cycle to a sitting senator. That race is tight, and has gotten nasty. Six-term Sen. Thad Cochran could well lose, but not for lack of a Herculean effort by the Mississippi Republican establishment and outside groups trying to save his job.

In this third election cycle since the birth of the tea party, both sides of the GOP divide have shown evidence of lessons learned:

Incumbents must take insurgents seriously. As the saying goes, there are only two ways to run for office, scared or unopposed. That means lining up your ducks early, and coopting potential opponents. Early in 2012, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky was already getting ready for 2014 including the possibility of a tea party primary challenger.

By June 2012, he had more than $6 million in his war chest. Soon after, he hired Jesse Benton as his campaign manager. Mr. Benton has deep tea party ties, and ran the successful 2010 insurgent campaign of Kentuckys other senator, Rand Paul. Senator McConnell had backed then-candidate Pauls primary opponent, but no matter: Senator Paul supported McConnell in Tuesdays primary.

More:
Do tea party losses show GOP establishment has learned its lesson? (+video)

So far, the tea party has notched few victories in the 2014 Republican primaries. Republican incumbents aren't taking anything for granted. But the biggest test comes June 3 in Mississippi.

So far this primary season, insurgent Republican candidates have little to show for their efforts in major races. Matt Bevin (Kentucky), Bryan Smith (Idaho), and Greg Brannon (North Carolina) all lost by wide margins in their primaries to better funded, GOP establishment-backed candidates.

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Digital Edition

The only challenger with tea party credentials to win a Senate or House primary so far is Ben Sasse of Nebraska. But Mr. Sasse, an Ivy League-educated university president, clearly does not aspire to be the next Ted Cruz. Hes already pledged to play nice with Republican leaders in the Senate.

Already, too, its clear that establishment Republicans have learned the lessons of 2010 and 2012, when undisciplined insurgents cost the party Senate seats and likely the majority. And they have acted on those lessons.

This also holds true in Mississippi, where on June 3, a strong tea party-backed challenger presents the biggest threat this cycle to a sitting senator. That race is tight, and has gotten nasty. Six-term Sen. Thad Cochran could well lose, but not for lack of a Herculean effort by the Mississippi Republican establishment and outside groups trying to save his job.

In this third election cycle since the birth of the tea party, both sides of the GOP divide have shown evidence of lessons learned:

Incumbents must take insurgents seriously. As the saying goes, there are only two ways to run for office, scared or unopposed. That means lining up your ducks early, and coopting potential opponents. Early in 2012, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky was already getting ready for 2014 including the possibility of a tea party primary challenger.

By June 2012, he had more than $6 million in his war chest. Soon after, he hired Jesse Benton as his campaign manager. Mr. Benton has deep tea party ties, and ran the successful 2010 insurgent campaign of Kentuckys other senator, Rand Paul. Senator McConnell had backed then-candidate Pauls primary opponent, but no matter: Senator Paul supported McConnell in Tuesdays primary.

Read the original post:
Do tea party losses show GOP establishment has learned its lesson?

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