House Republicans are changing their campaign strategy after being stunned by defeats in three GOP strongholds in Mississippi, Louisiana and Illinois, reports the Washington Post:
Reeling from drubbings in three special elections in the past two months, House Republicans yesterday unveiled a series of tactical and personnel changes at their campaign arm designed to forestall more losses in November...
...The most significant move announced yesterday was a change in the party's approach to competitive Republican primaries. Leaders will now wade into those contests to help the best general-election candidates emerge, a shift from Cole's previous decision to stay out of primaries. In the Illinois and Louisiana special elections, party leaders believe that chances of success were hampered by subpar nominees.
Republican nominees also will be aided by the establishment of new fundraising committees that will collect cash during the primaries and turn it over to the eventual winner for the general election. And Boehner is installing a key ally, Ed Brookover of the consulting firm Greener & Hook, in the upper echelons of the NRCC.
It was only a couple of months ago that Republican Congressman Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) said it is "no mystery" why the GOP faces such an uphill battle in November: President Bush has "killed the the Republican brand."