OK, sit down before you read this one, because I’m (reluctantly) going to defend Danny Tarkanian here. According to blogger Greg Sargent of The Plum Line on Thursday:
“(Danny Tarkanian) launched his first direct chickens-for-checkups attack on Lowden today (Thursday), pointing to it as proof that she doesn’t have what it takes to take on Harry Reid in a general election.
“The occasion for this move: Lowden gave an interview to a local TV station on chickens-for-checkups that has only landed her deeper in the manure. In attempting to explain herself, she looked a bit like a chicken who had begun to cross the road only to realize a truck was bearing down on her.
“The Tarkanian campaign is circulating video of the interview in an email that says: ‘Watch this video and ask yourself if Sue Lowden is prepared to run against Harry Reid.’”
Folks, this is what I’ve said this Republican primary should have been about since Day One: Who has the best chance to defeat Harry Reid in November? Not who’s the most conservative. Not who hates taxes more. Not who’s more pro-life. Not who owns the most guns. Who has the best chance to beat Harry?
And until this “chickens for checkups” fiasco blew up, that person has clearly been Sue Lowden. But her campaign’s failure to manage and put out such a minor brushfire does call into question how the campaign would handle the fireballs the Reidites are gonna hurl their way in November.
So while some will jump on Danny for “piling on” and going after Lowden over this, it’s absolutely a legitimate issue that goes to the very heart of what this campaign SHOULD be all about: Who’s the most electable candidate against Harry Reid? And there’s nothing wrong with pointing to how poorly your primary opponent has handled a campaign issue and raising questions about that campaign’s ability to win in November against the Democrat.
Don’t get me wrong. I still don’t think Danny can (or should) win either the GOP primary or the general. But since I’ve beaten him up so often for beating up on Sue for things he shouldn’t have been beating her up on, it’s only fair to give the devil his due when, for a change, he actually doesn’t do something wrong.
I know….faint praise. But it’s the best I’ve got in this case.