Remember When The GOP Didn’t Want Cramer to Run?

(BISMARCK, ND) – When Republicans first considered Congressman Kevin Cramer’s candidacy, they cringed and worked to keep him out of the race. Why didn’t they want him to run? Maybe it was Cramer’s penchant for saying outrageously offensive things. Or maybe it was his sycophantic need to stand with the president 100 percent of the time, even when it’s bad for North Dakota.

“Top Republicans in Washington are privately sending this message to a GOP congressman once viewed as a top recruit in North Dakota: Don’t run.” [CNN, 4/14/17]

“National Republicans are lukewarm on Rep. Kevin Cramer.” [Politico, 7/6/17]

“Republicans were trying to keep [Cramer] out of the race.” [Politico, 2/14/18]

“A Series Of Gaffes” “Convinced The GOP” To Look For Non-Cramer Candidates. [Politico, 1/11/18]

“Last year, [the GOP] wanted to go a different direction.” [ND Explains, 2/13/18]

Republicans Were Fearful Cramer Gaffes Could Hurt Chances Of Taking Seat; GOP Campaign Veteran Said Cramer Had “Akin-Like Tendencies.” [CNN, 4/14/17]

“Top Republicans are pressuring Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) not to launch a 2018 Senate bid against Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, according to a new report.” [The Hill, 4/14/17]

Since Cramer entered the race, he’s continued to prove why Republicans were nervous in the first place:

• HEADLINE: CNN: GOP Senate candidate Kevin Cramer: ‘Nothing inhumane about a chain-link fence’
• HEADLINE: West Fargo Pioneer: GOP Senate hopeful Kevin Cramer sought, received support of extreme anti-gay group, CNN reports
• HEADLINE: PolitiFact: Kevin Cramer distorts record on government shutdown
• HEADLINE: Washington Post: N.D. Republican’s Senate campaign ‘fact-checking’ website promotes false claim on CBO estimates
• HEADLINE: PolitiFact: Kevin Cramer distorts Heidi Heitkamp’s record on banking regulations
• Valley News Live: Cramer’s Ad “Misleading”
• Zaleski, The Forum: Cramer’s Medicare ad’s “premise is false […] He can’t fudge his record, although he is one of the best fudge masters in Washington, D.C.”
• HEADLINE: Forum: McFeely: Cramer’s admission is Hamm-handed

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