Elections

Our First Contestant

Despite embarrassing losses both in 2010 and 2012, the Right seems no less inclined to jeopardize the safety of their senate seats.

Karen Handel, the former executive of the Susan G. Komen foundation who tried and failed to discontinue the organization's funding of Planned Parenthood, is considering challenging Senator Saxby Chambliss in a primary contest.

“She’s considering it,” Rob Simms, a Republican campaign consultant who worked on Handel’s unsuccessful run for governor in 2010, told the Weekly Standard.

If she ran, she would be going up against Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), whom Roll Call reported may be vulnerable to a primary challenge from the right, given his "willingness to reach across the aisle and his comfort with the idea of compromise."

According to the Weekly Standard, Kay Godwin, the co-chairman of Georgia Conservatives in Action, also said she is hearing that Handel may challenge Chambliss in a primary.

Not coincidentally, Chambliss came out against Grover Norquist's anti-tax pledge several days ago, roughly the same time the notion that Handle may challenge him surfaced.

Handel can follow in the footsteps of Sharron Angle, Todd Akin, Richard Mourdock, Christine O'Donnell, Linda McMahon, and all the other candidates who have cost the Republicans a highly coveted Senate majority.