Raleigh – Three new reports over the weekend outlined how Senator Tillis’ primary challenge caused lasting damage for Senator Tillis – it pushed “the first-term senator to the right,” caused him to spend big on television ads, and revealed “questions around Tillis’ credibility” – which explains why conservative activists and his former primary opponent still believe Tillis is too weak to win.

First, former NPR politics editor Ken Rudin described how “even though he did lose a [primary] challenge” Tillis continues to have credibility problem with voters and is walking a “tightrope”:

“There were questions about Tillis’ credibility from the beginning. He was independent until Tucker announced a challenge and then he became much more conservative, latching onto Trump. If he loses his ties with Trump, I think people will see that as disingenuous.”

“So even though he did lose a challenge coming from the right, Senator Tillis did, if he wants to move to the center… I think people will find it disingenuous given the fact that he’s attached himself so closely to the president right now.”

“That’s the tightrope Tillis has been walking on – if he moves so far to the right because of a primary challenge, he alienates the centrists that will go to the Democratic Party.”

Then, Tillis’ former primary challenger Garland Tucker again refused to endorse Tillis, saying instead that he would support the “most conservative candidate in the race.” WFAE noted that Tucker’s “entrance into the primary pushed the first-term senator to the right. It also caused him to set aside $2.2 million on television ads.”

Finally, conservative activists told WXII that they’re still looking for a stronger candidate. Rockingham County GOP Chair Diane Parnell “fears Thom Tillis, with his low voter approval numbers in a recent poll, could end up losing to a Democratic challenger.”

NPR: The Political Junkie: Tillis Loses Primary Challenger & New Maps Unsettle NC Republican Incumbents
By Grant Holub-Moorman and Frank Stasio
December 6, 2019

Key Points:

• The thing is there were questions about Tillis’ credibility from the beginning. He was independent until Tucker announced a challenge and then he became much more conservative, latching onto Trump… If he loses his ties with Trump, I think people will see that as disingenuous.

• So even though he did lose a challenge coming from the right, Senator Tillis did, if he wants to move to the center… I think people will find it disingenuous given the fact that he’s attached himself so closely to the president right now.

• Not only has the legislature moved the Republican Party far to the right, but so has Donald Trump. And basically, if you don’t join that train – you don’t get on that train – you’re going to get left behind either by disaffected Republicans sitting at home or a primary challenge.

• For all the talk of Republicans moving far to the right, it seems to be a pretty purple state. Trump only won the state by 4 percentage points in 2016. Thom Tillis only beat Kay Hagan by not that much six years ago. That’s the tightrope Tillis has been walking on – if he moves so far to the right because of a primary challenge, he alienates the centrists that will go to the Democratic Party.

WFAE: Tucker Will Support ‘Most Conservative Candidate In The Race’
By Steve Harrison
December 6, 2019

• Garland Tucker’s bid to defeat Thom Tillis is over after the Raleigh businessman dropped out of the race earlier this week.

• Tucker criticized Tillis for not fully supporting President Trump, and his entrance into the primary pushed the first-term senator to the right. It also caused him to set aside $2.2 million on television ads.

• But in an interview this week, Tucker would not yet endorse Tillis. He said he will support the “most conservative candidate in the race.” That person could be…Republican Congressman Mark Walker.

• And Tucker seems to think Walker would be a great person to replace him against Tillis.

• Q: You said you are going to support the most conservative candidate in the race, and that would presumably be Senator Tillis (against whoever is the Democratic primary winner).

• A: Well, I don’t know, I’d say let’s wait and see what happens. The filing period is still open, but somebody more conservative may jump in. Who knows?

• Q: OK, there has been talk that Congressman Mark Walker may run in the GOP primary. Would you support him over Senator Tillis?

• A: I’ve heard some talk about that. From what I know at this point, I think he’s more conservative than Thom Tillis.

• Q: When was the last time you and Mark Walker talked?

• A: I won’t get into that. Any conversation I have had with him is private. That’s between Mark Walker and me. But if he jumps in the race I would consider supporting him, and from what I know now, he is the most conservative candidate in the race.

WXII: Rockingham Co. GOP leader wants Rep. Walker to challenge Sen. Thom Tillis.
By Bill O’Neil
December 6, 2019

Key Points:

• If Mark Walker is having trouble making a decision, Republicans here in Rockingham county say they would be happy to help him make up his mind.

• The head of Rockingham County’s Republican Party says Mark Walker is the one person that can beat Thom Tillis in the primary. “He’s doing this not for himself, he’s doing this for us.”

• Back in Rockingham County, GOP chairman Diane Parnell says Walker and the Republican Party have a lot riding on his decision. She fears Thom Tillis, with his low voter approval numbers in a recent poll, could end up losing to a Democratic challenger.