Republicans have a lot of interesting excuses for Rick Saccone's shocking loss in Pennsylvania
Special elections are special in part because, like a Rorschach test or a horoscope, people see in them what they want. So how are Republicans explaining away center-left Democrat Conor Lamb's narrow win in Tuesday's congressional election in conservative southwestern Pennsylvania? In a district President Trump won by 20 points, with a Trumpian candidate, Rick Saccone, who had Trump's in-person support and a $14 million boost from outside GOP groups? Let us count some ways.
1. Lamb basically ran as a Republican.
Trump: "[Lamb] said, 'Oh, I'm like Trump. Second Amendment, everything. I love the tax cuts, everything.' ... I said, 'Is he a Republican? He sounds like a Republican to me.'"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Fox News' Brian Kilmeade: "Lamb's great showing in red district shows Dems the way to Nov. success. Support Republican issues!! He claims to be pro-life, pro tax cut, pro tarriff [sic] and anti Pelosi."
2. Saccone was a terrible candidate.
GOP super PAC director Corry Bliss: "The fact is the Saccone campaign was a joke. If we had a candidate who could walk and chew gum at the same time, we would have won the race."
Pennsylvania GOP strategist: "It's a porn 'stache. ... He should have lost the mustache."
3. Washington Republicans bungled the race.
Saccone friend Lesa DeMaio: "When the national party got involved and they put out the advertising and everything, it doesn't focus on Rick. Rick is freaking amazing."
4. Trump almost won this for the GOP.
House Speaker Paul Ryan: "The president came in and helped close this race and got it to where it is right now."
Fox News' Steve Doocy: "Last week, it looked like Mr. Lamb was going to win by 6 points. ... So something drew it closer together, if you believe in polls. Maybe it was the president's visit."
Trump: "We lifted [Saccone] 7 points up. That's a lot. ... And 7 normally would be enough, but we'll see how it all comes out. It's, like, virtually a tie."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 22, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - frozen assets, blazing fires, and more
By The Week US Published
-
How much of a blow is ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu?
Today's Big Question Action by Hague court damages Israel's narrative that Gaza conflict is a war between 'good and evil'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
UK gynaecological care crisis: why thousands of women are left in pain
The Explainer Waiting times have tripled over the past decade thanks to lack of prioritisation or funding for women's health
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published