Anti-war can be liability in GOP

By: W. James Antle III
from The Politico
March 24, 2008

Will he go the way of Wayne Gilchrest or Ron Paul? That’s the question facing seven-term Congressman Walter Jones of North Carolina. On May 6, Jones faces a GOP primary challenge that hinges mainly on the one-time “freedom fries” crusader’s sharp turn against the Iraq war.

Much of the recent history of anti-war Republicans does not bode well for Jones. On Feb. 12, Congressman Gilchrest of Maryland was sent packing after nine terms. A fiscal and social moderate, Gilchrest had faced more than two dozen primary challengers during his 18 years in Congress. Breaking with his party on Iraq finally did him in.

The country’s most visible anti-war Republican defied the odds, however. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, who made withdrawal from Iraq a central plank of his quixotic GOP presidential campaign, trounced a pro-war primary challenge with more than 70 percent of the vote.

Jones’ primary opponent, Onslow County Commissioner Joe McLaughlin, has circulated a Public Opinion Research poll showing the two men tied. Jones has fired back with a National Research Inc. survey showing the incumbent beating McLaughlin 54 percent to 16 percent.

Paul’s race for an 11th term also featured dueling polls, with each campaign showing its man ahead. In that contest, the incumbent was right. Some polls also incorrectly suggested Gilchrest would hang on due to a divided field.

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