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The race between incumbent Thom Tillis and challenger Cal Cunningham for the Senate in North Carolina is rated a “toss up” by Real Clear Politics, with Cunningham leading in the polls.
Well, this race just got a lot more complicated, and both candidates have new troubles.
The news broke yesterday that Tillis, the Republican incumbent, has been diagnosed with COVID-19. He is on the Judiciary Committee in the Senate, which means that both he and Senator Mike Lee of Utah are now quarantining.
BREAKING — Sen Thom Tillis also tests positive for covid-19, his office says. Tillis is also a member of the Judiciary Committee, was at the White House SCOTUS event Saturday, met with Barrett on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/FMGFWkOiFA
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) October 3, 2020
Our best wishes go out to both Tillis and Lee for their quick recovery. The coronavirus is definitely making itself known at the last minute in this election cycle. And this might have been enough to solidify Cunningham’s lead in the race. At least, until this news broke.
News cycle not done yet tonight, folks.
"North Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham, a married father of two, sent text messages of a sexual nature to a woman who is not his wife, his campaign confirmed Friday night."https://t.co/zuay1S4G88
— Alex Roarty (@Alex_Roarty) October 3, 2020
Well, this might just shake things up a bit.
Cal Cunningham, who is a married father of two, has focused his U.S. Senate campaign against Republican Thom Tillis on Cunningham’s service as a veteran in Iraq and Afghanistan. But Cunningham is evidently engaged in extramarital activity with the wife of a fellow veteran.”
Cunningham refers to (Arlene) Guzman Todd in the text messages below as “historically sexy,” imagines kissing her, says he has been dreaming “of our time together,” and the two plan for Cunningham to make up an excuse for his family and ditch a staffer so the two can meet and, in Guzman Todd’s words, “kiss a lot.” Guzman Todd says she wants “a night with you” and Cunningham agrees that he wants that too. Guzman Todd says that “the only thing I want on my to do list is you” and Cunningham says that “Sounds so hot and so fun!”
Cunningham admitted to the sexting, and did the standard boilerplate apology – while saying that he would not drop out of the race.
Cunningham, who has been leading in polling in his pivotal U.S. Senate race against Republican incumbent Thom Tillis, said Friday night that he is not dropping out of the race.”
“I have hurt my family, disappointed my friends, and am deeply sorry. The first step in repairing those relationships is taking complete responsibility, which I do. I ask that my family’s privacy be respected in this personal matter,” Cunningham said in a statement sent to The News & Observer.
“I remain grateful and humbled by the ongoing support that North Carolinians have extended in this campaign, and in the remaining weeks before this election I will continue to work to earn the opportunity to fight for the people of our state.”
While some voters are basically saying “meh, so innocent” or “I don’t care” on Twitter, we all know that Twitter is not the real world. The last poll on this race, per RCP, was run between September 22nd and 25th. Which makes one wonder when the next poll will be run.
Is Cunningham’s apology, likely produced by the best PR firm the campaign could find on short notice, enough to save him in this race? It’s not just the sexting – Cunningham is a lieutenant colonel in the Army reserves, and depending on evidence and circumstances, he could be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice if any of this occurred while he was on active duty. Is it likely that anyone will actually will proceed with a UCMJ violation against Cunningham? No, it’s not likely. Is this a bad look for him? Yes. Is this bad enough to sink his campaign, especially when Tillis is now quarantined for COVID?
The people of North Carolina have some thinking to do.
Featured image via Pixabay, cropped, Pixabay license
Scott says: What has to come loose in your brain to be a democrat and a military officer?? With the way the dems hate the military, you’ve gotta be seriously screwed in the head…
As for the UCMJ violation, while I agree it most likely WON’T be pursued, it damn sure SHOULD be! Voters should see clearly that if at this very moment, he is quite happy to betray the trust his wife placed in him, do they think he’d have any more fidelity towards them? If so, they’ve got some screws loose too!
Cameron says: The higher up you get in the ranks, the more of a liberal political animal you become. And yes; he (allegedly) violated the UCMJ. He needs to feel the pain from that.
Scott says: Very true, especially under Obama, when the only ones promoted to those levels were “believers”.. as for the “allegedly”, he admitted it, so that seems like a solid confession.. trial shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes
Hominem Humilem says: Lieutenant Colonel isn’t really a big deal…the Army has thousands of them (and the Reserves lots more), and the selection boards don’t have to narrow the field dramatically. The “Political Level” really starts with promotions from Colonel to Brigadier General, when only a few dozen are selected from a pool of thousands.
George V says: Progressives don’t hate the military. They only hate the military they do not control.
It’s only logical that progressives would eventually move into the military after dominating education, government, and making significant progress in corporate America.
The same education system that produces woke college and high school graduates to work in education, government and tech produces those who go into the military.
[…] North Carolina Senate Race Gets Double Whammy […]
[…] Victory Girls Blog discusses the double whammy in the NC senate race […]
Yeah-Me-Neither says: Let me see. If I have to choose between catching Covid or being caught in sexting someone not my wife, I’ll choose Covid. I will also choose the candidate who has Covid, not 9x out of 10x, but 10x out of 10x.
John says: Sex!! So bad when dens do it
Here you support Trump who cheated on all of his 3 wives
The last time when Melania was preggers and with a porn star
Please compare and contrast that with Cunningham’s setting
GWB says: Interesting statement, since there was absolutely no judgment on the matter by Deanna. The entire post is “Could these things affect the outcome of the race?”
Perhaps there is some projection at work here?
(FYI, most of the Victory Girls have stated quite clearly that they have varying degrees of distaste for the man’s past personal life, and some right up to the present.)
(Also, your assertion of cheating “the last time” has not held up under scrutiny. True or not, the evidence is less firm than your statement.)
Cameron says: Do yourself a favor. Look up the term “UCMJ.”
I just saw a Cunningham ad this morning in which he states that Tillis doesn’t care about the military. Um…and how does Cunningham show his support?
Scott says: Apparently he cares quite a bit for the wife of a military member, does that count?
Hominem Humilem says: He volunteered to serve; given his present pay grade, he has done so for more than 15 years. Serving is no longer commonplace in America. He may deserve criticism for many other things (including the sexting, of course), but I’ve seen no reason to believe his service is faked and he deserves credit for his willingness to place himself in service.
GWB says: And now there’s a second one. Still nothing more than an allegation. But he backed out of a debate when the second one came out.
A Landmesser says: Am I missing something here? Tillis is a RINO. I’ll shed no tears to see him go. Maybe the GOP in NC will learn from what happrnrf in Virginia.
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