The Main Street Partnership’s decision to get involved in the special election for the 48th Congressional District is an example of putting their agenda for the Republican Party ahead of the Republican Party. I’ve 
seen enough polling data to convince me that Ms. Brewer has no chance of winning but every chance of forcing Senator John Campbell into an unecessary run-off election. A run-off for Campbell would waste hundreds of thousands of dollars in Republican money, put a safe Republican seat in possible jeopardy, and leave the House GOP short-handed a vote for several weeks.
You can argue that the House GOP doesn’t need that one vote, or that there is plenty of campaign cash in Orange County, or that Jim Gilchrist won’ t have enough impact on a run-off to put the 48th in play for the Dems. But why take the chance?
Some will argue that the national GOP needs to hear the message from the base (in the form of Gilchrist) by forcing a run-off but I would argue that the national GOP has heard the message. Further, there is some speculation that House Republicans will deal with immigration reform this year to help address some of the frustration the base is feeling about spending, Katrina funding, budget reform, and the issues surrounding Tom DeLay and Bill Frist.
At a time when Republicans are at a low point and need to be pulling together to navigate tough waters, Main Street chooses to go against the state’s moderate Governor and state party organization and support a candidate with no chance of winning but every chance of hurting the best candidate.