Conservative activist and CNN contributor considers primary bid
Washington (CNN) - Conservative activist Erick Erickson, editor of the leading publication RedState.com, is considering mounting a primary challenge against Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
"I had been rather dismissive of it, but in the past two days have been approached by several organizations and individuals I greatly respect who have asked me to really consider it," Erickson, also a CNN political contributor, said Tuesday. "I owe them that and will consider it, but am not prepared to commit to it. I have plenty of time to think about it."
–You can follow Kevin Bohn on Twitter @KevinBohnCNN.
Erickson, who lives in Macon, Georgia, first discussed the possibility of running in a contest against the two-term senator on his radio talk show Tuesday evening and said he would discuss it with his family.
The latest cause of conservative anger against Chambliss, who is up for re-election in 2014, concerns his recent comments against the pledge vowing not to support raising taxes supported by activist Grover Norquist.
That pledge, widely supported by many Republican lawmakers, has come under scrutiny because of the looming fiscal cliff - unless Congress takes action at the start of the new year, the Bush-era income tax cuts are set to expire and major spending reductions are scheduled to be enacted.
"I care more about my country than I do about a 20-year-old pledge," Chambliss told Georgia television station WMAZ, a CNN affiliate, last week. "If we do it his way, then we'll continue in debt and I just have a disagreement with him about that."
Opposition to Chambliss is not new to Erickson.
"Back in December of 2008, I wrote that Chambliss found himself in a runoff because he sided with every bad compromise from immigration to energy to the farm bill to the bailouts. Conservatives supported him because we knew he was what stood between America and 60 Democrats in the Senate. But he never learned his lesson and continues to support all the compromises that have gotten us into this mess in the first place," Erickson said.
"Whether it is me or someone else, conservatives should make beating Saxby Chambliss their chief cause in primary season 2014," he said.
Erickson tweeted Tuesday evening "If I were a senator I'd object to every UC (unanimous consent), until Obamacare was repealed. Shut down the Senate lest they shut down America" and "If I were a Senator, I'd sure as heck not have voted for TARP."
CNN’s Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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"But he never learned his lesson and continues to support all the compromises that have gotten us into this mess in the first place," "
Be very VERY careful how you read this. Erick "The K is Silent" Erickson, is not saying "us" as in the the "mess" the United States is in...he's saying "us" as in the "mess" the GOP/Teatrolls are in. He is advertising his belief that the tiny bit of comrpomise that was squeezed out of the GOP/Teatrolls or forced upon them by getting out-maneuvered is what has harmed the GOP/Teatroll "brand." With that in mind, his statement makes very clear that he's just another Teatroll absolutist looking for an opportunity to prevent any compromise from occurring. I welcome it. Dig that hole, Erick, dig that hole.
By all means the go right ahead mr right-wnger "activist", keep blaming the people attempting to do their job and not your policies.
Keep dragging the grand OLD party backward toward oblivion.....or extinction – same result.
Totally incredulous! This type of Grand Obstructionist Party "no compromise" Teapug buffoon was shellacked in every area from Electoral College to popular vote.. even in traditionally RED states!
Perhaps they should get psychiatric help as repeating the same thing over and over yet expecting a different outcome is the vary basis of insanity.
Another one that wants his way or the highway... This idea of getting "my way or nothing" is going hurt the progress on many things that need to be done. His attitude is one of the things going wrong with the country. We are less communially minded (helping our fellow citizens and working toward a collective goal) and this is an example. There is only so much we should do alone. How does he get the idea that he is (or his ideas are) better than anyone else?
No room for moderates in the republican party anymore. Their slogan should be "I Didn't Leave The Republican Party, The Republican Party Left Me!"
Erick Erickson and Morning Joe guy would be great poster boys for the new and improved GOP party.
They both have that GQ look with a Johnny Walker IQ.
Come January, the GOP will have 4 less seats in the Senate because Tea Party nitwits (Christine O'Donnell, Richard Mourdock, Sharon Angle, and Todd Akin) defeated moderates/conservatives (Mike Castle, Richard Lugar, etc.) in the primaries, only to be trounced by Dems who would have had no shot against the moderates/conservatives. And now Erick Erickson wants to make it 5.
Rick McDenial – Thanks for your comment. Still as devoid of any facts and totally delusional as usual I see. Obvious Fox News projecting there too.