November 17, 2010 10:34 PM UTC

Cornyn Re-Elected to NRSC Head; Buck/Norton a "Lesson"

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• by: Colorado Pols

Our friends at National Journal report:

Cornyn’s re-election provides the NRSC some continuity in 2012 when it faces a playing field with plenty of pick up opportunities. The GOP only has to defend 10 seats in 2012, while 21 Democrats and two independents who caucus with Democrats are up for re-election.

“I appreciate the strong support from all of my Republican colleagues, and especially our 13 new Republican senators, as we continue our campaign to win back a Senate Republican majority in 2012,” Cornyn said in a statement.

While Cornyn’s performance as NRSC chair has been praised in Republican circles since the election, it wasn’t without speed bumps. By wading into contested primaries early in the cycle, the NRSC was handed defeats when insurgent challengers like Christine O’Donnell (Del.), Ken Buck (Colo.) and Sharron Angle (Nev.) defeated NRSC-backed contenders in part by using the NRSC’s endorsement against them. The GOP went on to lose those three seats, costing them a chance at a Senate majority…

“The key now is to build on that success, while applying lessons learned from the 2010 campaign,” Cornyn said. “I believe Republicans are strongest when we stick together, and I continue to adhere to the words of William F. Buckley, who famously said: ‘I am for the most conservative candidate that can get elected.'” [Pols emphasis]

So, if you’re one of the local Republicans who lashed out against John Cornyn and the National Republican Senatorial Committee when they tried to clear the GOP Senate primary field for Jane Norton in August of 2009, you can interpret the above statement as evidence that Cornyn has indeed learned a very important lesson from the 2010 elections. A hint: it’s not that the NRSC should have ‘listened’ to the “Tea Party” groups and their unelectable pet candidates.

No, folks, the lesson, while maybe being a little slicker about it, is to never listen to them again.