Comer-Massie 2019 ??

A recent report by Lawrence Smith, excellent reporter for WDRB-TV in Louisville, stated that he had information from good sources that First District Congressman James Comer had discussed the possibility of Fourth District Congressman Thomas Massie running with Comer as candidate for Lt. Governor in 2019. And Massie is interested. Comer-Massie 2019? Far fetched? Not possible? Let’s look at it.

First, it underscores what most have said for months…Matthew Bevin probably cannot be re-elected. ITC has heard this charge with more frequency since the debacle of an ill fated, so-called Special Session of the legislature called by Bevin in December to address pension reform. If you recall, Bevin called legislators to Frankfort for a special session and he gave legislators all of FOUR HOURS notice to get there. Then, when they get to Frankfort at 8 o’clock that evening, there is no bill. Then, when the bill is finally presented, it was totally different than what Bevin had promised legislative leaders just a few hours earlier. The legislature promptly adjourned the next day, noting that Bevin was clearly ill-prepared. Since then, the drumbeat for an alternative Republican candidate has gotten even louder and has centered, for the most part, on Comer.

So, what would a Comer-Massie ticket do? First, it would send the Tea Party zealots into orbit! (Some would argue that some of them are there 24/7 already, but that is another story) The Tea Party has a strong affection for Bevin and his current Lt. Governor, Jenean Hampton. They have made well known their desire for Bevin to pick Hampton in 2019, although Bevin has been non-committal and the worse kept secret in Frankfort is that Bevin really doesn’t like Hampton. But probably even more stronger is the Tea Party affection and support for Thomas Massie. In fact, the main part of what is left of the so-called Tea Party movement is centered mainly in the Fourth Congressional District, and those folks have been with Massie since day one when he defeated former Republican State Representative Alecia Webb-Edgington in the Republican primary in 2014. So, Massie on a ticket with Comer would clearly divide Tea Party loyalists. Politically, this would benefit Comer. He had no Tea Party support in May, 2015 when he lost to Bevin by 83 votes.

ITC thinks Massie is probably tired of Washington, even more so now that the Republicans in the House are in the minority. However, Massie has always been in the minority, just within the majority. He was a member of the original Freedom Caucus, led by Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan. That group was opposed to former John Boehner, also of Ohio. Massie voted against Boehner for Speaker and ultimately, the opposition to Boehner from the Freedom caucus led to Beohner’s resignation from Congress. Then, Massie was against Speaker Paul Ryan. Massie has always been a wild card (he was recently the only member of Congress to vote against paying federal employees if and when the government shutdown ends) and now, clearly, as a member of a minority within the minority, he is probably ready to come home. That is why running with Comer makes sense.

ITC believes a Comer-Massie ticket would be very formidable. Comer is very strong in the First District; Massie is strong in the Fourth District; with Bevin’s unpopularity statewide, and his approval rating in the low 30s, Comer-Massie could become a Republican Party dream ticket….or at least a ticket that could defeat Bevin, and for many, that would be a dream come true!