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Title: Blum Says Others Will Support Him If Republicans Don’t (voted against Boehner)
Source:
Roll Call
URL Source: http://atr.rollcall.com/blum-runnin ... election-without-party-behind/
Published: Jun 14, 2015
Author: Emily Cahn
Post Date: 2015-06-14 11:17:54 by Hondo68
Keywords: made appearances with, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, Scott Walker, Ben Carson
Views: 2578
Comments: 26
Blum is one of the most vulnerable House Republicans. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Iowa Republican Rep. Rod Blum’s re-election effort is not getting much support from his party. But that’s just fine with him.
The freshman Republican alienated himself from some of his GOP colleagues after he cast his first vote in Congress against John A. Boehner’s speakership — despite getting Boehner’s support in his 2014 bid for Iowa’s 1st District. And while Blum admits his vote has hurt his relationship with groups such as the National Republican Congressional Committee, he says there are other outlets he can turn to for support.
The vote has, “been a problem as far as the NRCC goes,” Blum told CQ Roll Call on Wednesday. “I’ve always believed that when one door closes another one opens. There’s been other groups out there that are interested in a career businessman who represents a Democrat district who won and who’s principled and they’re very interested in what I’ve done so far.”
Though Blum holds one of 10 districts rated a Tossup by the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call, he’s not one of the 21 members the NRCC included in its Patriot program — which provides the House GOP Caucus’ most vulnerable incumbents with fundraising and organizational support. That list includes Blum’s fellow Iowa GOP colleague David Young, whose southwest Iowa district is far less Democratic-leaning than Blum’s.
The NRCC declined to comment on why Blum is not a member of the program, only saying that the committee has “multiple rounds” that “will continue to be released throughout the cycle.”
But Iowa GOP operatives say it’s no surprise House leadership isn’t rushing to Blum’s aid.
Republicans are on defense this cycle, needing to protect more than a dozen districts in Democratic-leaning territory after the 2014 GOP wave. And Blum’s is one of the most challenging of the bunch to hold onto, as President Barack Obama carried it by a 14-point margin in 2012.
With a daunting map in front of them, some Iowa Republican operatives said Blum’s vote against Boehner provides the NRCC with cover to not waste resources on a race that would be difficult to win.
“He’s an outlier; he’s an anomaly,” one Iowa Republican operative unaffiliated with the race said of Blum’s 2014 victory. “If I’m [Boehner], I’m saying, ‘OK, we didn’t really want to put him on the list anyway because he’s so endangered and it’s such a bad district. This gives him an easy way out.’ ”
Still, Blum is all-in for his re-election.
He’s traveling the district, touting himself as an independent voice in Congress who’s introduced legislation to ban former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists. He’s made appearances with the parade of the GOP presidential hopefuls traversing Iowa ahead of next year’s caucuses, including Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Ben Carson and Sens. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz. And he said he’s met with a number of outside groups who he said could make up the difference if the NRCC sits his race out.
“You know, we’ve held lots of discussions,” Blum said of other groups who could financially back his re-election bid. “And they’ve been so far very supportive and I think that will translate into support next fall.”
Blum also loaned his campaign $500,000 in the first quarter of 2015, a sign he’s willing to risk some of his personal fortune on his political future. Last cycle, Blum donated and loaned his campaign $220,000.
A crowded Democratic primary could also benefit his re-election hopes, potentially producing a bruised and battered nominee. So far, three Democrats have entered the race, and a handful of others are considering it.
In Iowa, if no candidate garners at least 35 percent of the vote, the nomination heads to a rare nominating convention. A convention would drag out the process, and take time and resources away from focusing on Blum.
‘They’re going to have to slug it out, and that’s good,” Blum said of the Democratic field. “Slug it out!”
Poster Comment:
God bless the patriotic RINO's, like Blum.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has refused to support him for reelection, because he's too pro-American. (1 image)
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 9.
Blum represents a Blue district. To hold onto that seat, he has to actually represent his constituents who lean Dem.
The RNC naturally places his campaign lower in priority than other districts with more loyal but endangered GOP members.
No one should be too surprised at any of this. It isn't news any more than all the times when Blue Dog Dems in Congress opposed gungrabbing measures by the more Lefty urban Dems.
#9. To: TooConservative (#5)
Blum represents a Blue district. To hold onto that seat, he has to actually represent his constituents who lean Dem.
I understand what you mean,but the truth is ALL politicians are elected to office to represent AMERICA and the American POV. Sometimes this will be a POV to the left of center,and sometimes it will be a POV to the right of center.
The problem is we have damn few politicians left that have any sort of moral compass at all,and the only people they represent are their paymasters,and by extension,themselves.
IMHO,some leftist POV's are no more evil than some Rightist POV's. What is evil is the idea that you/we have to be some sort of mindless drones and follow the brainfarts of the self-centered leadership with no questions or criticisms. Regardless of the letter behind their names.
I will NOT vote for any politician based on what party label he wears,or the label assigned to him or her by people that don't like them.
I WILL vote for a candidate that I think understands and values the Bill of Rights and our Constitution that puts America and Americans first,though.
Replies to Comment # 9.
I understand what you mean,but the truth is ALL politicians are elected to office to represent AMERICA and the American POV. Sometimes this will be a POV to the left of center,and sometimes it will be a POV to the right of center.
House members are elected to represent the voters of their district. Senators are elected to represent their state. Only a president is elected to represent (a majority of) the people as a whole.
You are complaining that Blum is actually representing the voters of his district as he campaigned to do.
I don't know Blum or care about him but I don't find that much fault with congresscritters representing their voters. In this case, I think he probably does. That may not save his seat but it could. He's playing the indy game and it does sometimes work out for a pol.
#11. To: sneakypete (#9)
IMHO,some leftist POV's are no more evil than some Rightist POV's
A leftist would say that. :)
End Trace Mode for Comment # 9.
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