"The national folks asked and we looked at it and determined, in the interest of keeping the seat, it needed to be done. It has the potential to be a competitive race. The Democrats have raised a lot of money and we can't take the election for granted."
More on the story:
Republican state Rep. Terri McCormick has learned to her dismay that the state Republican Party allowed the National Republican Congressional Committee to send financial support to Assembly Speaker John Gard for the 8th Congressional District seat before the primary election.
The usual tradition is to wait until after the voters have selected a candidate.
"I had phoned the NRCC for weeks trying to get a meeting with them. I still am unclear about what was decided and why," said McCormick, of Appleton, who learned about the party's action from a Gannett reporter who called her from
Washington, D.C.
"The voters should speak first instead of political insiders."
Rick Wiley, executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, confirmed that the state party authorized the RNCC to provide resources for Gard for the primary election. The Wisconsin party did not endorse Gard, he said. It responded to a request to grant permission to the national organization.
"He impressed the leadership in D.C. There are contributions in the next campaign finance report from House Speaker Dennis Hastert and other members of the leadership," Wiley said.
Personally, I can see why Gard would impress the National Republican Leadership. I wouldn't take that as a compliment. They are, after all 'tainted'.
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