Cornyn Says Angle’s Camp Is “Work in Progress”
Amid widespread questioning of ex-NV state Rep. Sharron Angle's (R) campaign against Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid, NRSC Chair John Cornyn today conceded Angle has stumbled in the face of effective attacks by the Reid campaign and needs to improve her organization.
"Unfortunately the negative campaigning sometimes does work," Cornyn said. "It's driven up her negatives. It's made the race closer."
"We continue to work with them, but it's a work in progress," Cornyn said.
Asked if Angle has done enough to set up a campaign capable of a battle with Reid, Cornyn said he and other NRSC official have had frequent conference calls with Angle and her staff, but said improvement is still needed.
"We've been working with her campaign," Cornyn said. "We're still working it ....While running for election is not rocket science, it does require knowledgeable people. It does require some discipline and that's always a struggle for any first time candidate. While she's not a first time candidate, I think when you're running against the incumbent Majority Leader, this is the, it's the Super Bowl and they're gonna come at you with everything they've got and it would be a challenge for anybody to withstand the negative attacks."
Cornyn noted Reid's success raising Angle's negatives "hasn't made people like Harry Reid any more or approve of his policies. Noting the state's unemployment rate remains the country's highest, Cornyn said Reid argued the race should turn on voter's assessment of the economy.
"In the end, no matter how interesting the personalities are, the question the voters should be, do you like the way things are going in the country right now and in Nevada? And if you do probably ought to vote for Harry Reid. But if you don't then I think Sharron Angle offers the alternative."
Turning to CT SEN, Cornyn also said he was surprised by ex-Rep. Rob Simmons' (R) decision to re-enter the race for the retiring Sen. Chris Dodd's (D) seat, reigniting an intra party fight with Linda McMahon as Republicans look to beat AG Richard Blumenthal (D).
"I don't know a whole lot," Cornyn said. "I was a little surprised. I am not really sure what it means, but obviously we'll support the Republican nominee," he said.
Cornyn said he has not talked to Simmons and did not think Simmons had tried to contact the NRSC.