Tea party's rebranding costs GOP

Prior to the 2010 election, the Democrats controlled the U.S. Senate 59-41. And the Republican wave that swept over the U.S. House on Election Day two years ago threatened Democratic control of the Senate, too. When the dust settled, the GOP had gained six seats, and the Senate stood at 53 Democrats and 47 Republicans. Six seats is an impressive gain, unless you look deeper.

Thanks to the tea party, the GOP lost in four states it could have otherwise won. And with those four seats, the Republicans would have taken control of the Senate. A quick look at what happened in those four states vividly portrays the extent to which the tea party is in the process of rebranding the Republican Party in a way that cripples its ability to win and govern.

Delaware

No incumbent sought re-election in the Delaware Senate race. Democrat Ted Kaufman, who had been appointed to the seat after Joe Biden was elected vice president, chose not to run in 2010. The Democratic primary was won by New Castle County Executive Chris Coons, who was basically unknown to most voters in Delaware.

On the Republican side, it was a two-person primary that pitted Republican Congressman Mike Castle against tea party activist and political commentator Christine O'Donnell. Prior to his election to the House, Castle had been both governor and lieutenant governor of Delaware. He was widely known and respected throughout the state. A moderate by instinct, Castle had a long record of reaching across party lines.

Political pundits believed that Castle would handily defeat the unknown Democrat Coons in the general election. But O'Donnell mounted an insurgent campaign against Castle that was bankrolled by the Tea Party Express. Her campaign charged that Castle was having a gay affair. She was endorsed by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. It worked. She and her tea party allies defeated Castle in the Republican primary 53 percent to 47 percent.

But by October, she was running television advertising in which she stated, "I am not a witch." Her campaign had become a bad joke. Coons, unknown Democrat, demolished her on Election Day, 57 percent to 40 percent.

West Virginia

West Virginia is a state that has been trending Republican in recent years. It has voted Republican for president since 2000. Only about a third of its voters approve of President Barack Obama.

The death of longtime Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd in 2010 resulted in another open seat battle. But Republican Congresswoman Shelley Capito, a moderate conservative and the only pro-choice member of the state's congressional delegation, chose not to seek the GOP Senate nomination. Her decision opened the door for Republican John Raese to handily win the nomination with 71 percent of the vote in the primary. In the general election, he was opposed by the state's governor, Democrat Joe Manchin.

In September 2010, Raese told Real Clear Politics, "The tea party is a little bit to the left of me." He lost to Manchin 53 percent to 47 percent.

Colorado

In Colorado, former Denver Public School Superintendent Michael Bennet, a Democrat, had been appointed to the Senate seat and sought a full term in 2010.

In the hotly contested Democratic primary, he was opposed by former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. Bennet had the support of President Obama, and Romanoff had the support of former President Bill Clinton. Bennet won the primary 54 percent to 46 percent.

The favorite in the GOP primary was former Colorado Lt. Gov. Jane Norton. She was opposed by Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck. With strong backing from the tea party, Buck pulled off the upset, defeating Norton 52 percent to 48 percent.

In the general election, Bennet was able to appeal to voters, especially suburban women voters, by criticizing Buck's views on abortion and his refusal to prosecute an alleged rapist while district attorney. Bennet won 48 percent to 46 percent.

Nevada

Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader, sought re-election in 2010. He was widely regarded as the Democratic incumbent least likely to be re-elected. For the GOP, it was a golden opportunity — capture control of the Senate and defeat Harry Reid in the process.

It didn't happen. Reid won his primary election with 75 percent of the vote. With strong support from the Tea Party Express, Sharron Angle easily won the Republican primary. As the campaign began, she had a double-digit lead.

Then she began to talk. She opposed fluoridation of water. She opposed Medicare and Social Security. Initially she ran from reporters in order to avoid questioning, but later stated, "We wanted them (the press) to ask the questions we want to answer." She attacked people of Mexican descent, who make up about 25 percent of the Nevada population. And she stated that "the tenet of the separation of church and state is an unconstitutional doctrine." She lost 50 percent to 44 percent.

And there you have it. When you spot your opponent four turnovers before the kickoff, guess what? You lose!

One would have hoped that in the 2012 election cycle the GOP and the tea party would have learned something productive from their self-inflicted disaster two years ago. Not so fast. John Raese is back as the Republican nominee for the Senate seat in West Virginia. And in both Missouri and Indiana, the GOP has saddled itself with nominees who are way out of the mainstream.

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