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Of: Emelie Svensson
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A sex scandal could reduce the chances of Democrats taking power in the Senate.
The party planned to pinch the majority thanks to the key state of North Carolina.
But after text messaging evidence and the revelation that her candidate was in an extramarital affair, it seems increasingly complicated.
– The precondition for his campaign has collapsed, says opponent Thom Tillis.
Photo: Gerry Broome / AP
Democratic Senate candidate Cal Cunningham.
A few weeks before the US election, Democrats are rocked by a sex scandal.
Republicans have had a majority in the Senate since 2015. It has benefited them in a number of important votes in recent years, such as the Supreme Court ruling and the appointment of justices to the Supreme Court.
This year, the Democrats seem to have a chance to win a majority in the Senate, but first in several states a real biter awaits them. If it doesn’t go all the way, some believe there is one person to blame: Cal Cunningham.
Texting of a sexual nature
The party hoped for a Democratic victory in the key state of North Carolina. In recent months, the Democratic challenger, Cal Cunningham, has raised huge sums for his campaign and has had good opinion polls. Yet for incumbent Republican Sen. Thom Tillis it looked dark, investigations showed.
But the game plan has been redesigned in no time. It was recently revealed that Cunningham, who is married, has had an extramarital affair and sent text messages of a sexual nature to campaign strategist Arlene Guzman Todd, who is also married. Among other things, she is said to have written that she is “historically sexy” and that she wanted to sneak out of her family to go kiss her.
So far, Cunningham has been on the defensive and raised questions about the deal, but has made it clear that he will not abandon the race for the Senators.
“Undermine trust”
The revelation now dominates news broadcasts in North Carolina, and Republicans have run ads attacking Cunningham’s poor judgment.
Opponent Thom Tillis was quick to attack Cal Cunningham.
“This undermines voters’ confidence in Cal, especially if you are among those who have not decided,” Tillis told the Politico newspaper.
Photo: Gerry Broome / AP
Republican Senator Thom Tillis.
It’s true that Democrats can still get their own majority, although it’s much more uncertain without North Carolina. And Democrats continue to insist that Republican Tillis has yet to catch up with the polls.
Tillis has said that if Joe Biden wins the election, a Republican Senate would serve as a necessary counterweight.
– The best counterweight during a Biden presidency is whether Republicans have a majority in the Senate. And I think checks and balances appeal to North Carolina voters, he says.
Democrats are investing in Republican strongholds
North Carolina is one of the few states that will decide which party gets the majority in the Senate, where Republicans currently have 53 out of 100 seats.
But Democrats are believed to win in Arizona and Colorado. Republicans have an advantage in Alabama. In Iowa and Maine, there are dead breeds. Democrats have also tried to campaign in traditional Republican states like Alaska, Montana, South Carolina and Kansas, to increase their chances.
Josh Holmes, a political strategist who has worked closely with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, says there is no question that the most obvious victory record for Senate Democrats is North Carolina. .
– And it seems that Cal Caunningham “sexed” him, he tells Politico.
However, an anonymous Democrat with whom the newspaper spoke does not believe that the issue of infidelity affects the outcome of the election, although the election may be more even.
“Difficult to take seriously”
Other Democrats say voters are unlikely to punish Cunningham, given Trump’s repeated allegations of sexual misconduct. Especially considering the well-known band “Access Hollywood” that was launched just a month before the last election, where Trump boasts of taking women on the genitals without their permission.
– It’s a little difficult for me to take seriously the Republican shock and fear of what this guy has done. Almost everything a Democratic candidate does is overshadowed by what Donald Trump does every day, which Republicans cover up, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse told Politico.
But Tillis says it’s different this time, because Cunningham has made character, integrity and his military experience important parts of his campaign.
The Call: Be Transparent
– The entire premise of Cal Cunningham’s campaign has collapsed in the last four days. Of course, that will be a factor. I will not urge you to withdraw from the race. I urge you to be transparent and give a full explanation, says Tillis.
Rachel Petri, a spokeswoman for Cal Cunningham, says Thom Tillis is still behind in public opinion. According to her, this is because her policy, even in the field of health care, does not go well with the people.
– Now you are trying to use a personal question to make desperate attacks in the hope that it will save your political career, she says.
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