RedState Editor Erick Erickson said today that he is “prayerfully considering” a primary challenge to U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, a Republican from Georgia. Erickson has been forcefully advocating for a primary challenge to Chambliss on RedState, and said today on his radio show that “serious people” have approached him about becoming the challenger himself. Peach Pundit editor Charlie Harper broke the story online, and has been in personal contact with Erickson about the subject. Here’s his take:
I’ve traded a couple of texts with him and would say this isn’t a publicity stunt. Nor has he decided he’s running and is being coy about it. It’s something he needs to think about. So he will.
Reaction so far has been mixed:
@sissywillis I would be happy to support @ewerickson in a primary challenge against @saxbychambliss to represent Georgia in the US Senate
— Hutch Cecchi (@Johnny_Petrini) November 27, 2012
Good to hear @ewerickson is considering RHINO Saxby Chambliss challenge – POLITICO m.hilliker.org/QoHuyG
— Marc Hilliker (@MarcHilliker) November 28, 2012
Oh, so you think Erick Erickson would be a better senator than Saxby Chambliss? Tell me again how much you know about governing. #tcot #gop
— GOP Operative (@gop_operative) November 28, 2012
Finally, the eternal critic will taste his own medicine RT @politico: Erickson mulls Chambliss challenge: politi.co/TsHeyb
— US American 4Maps (@MeSoBland) November 28, 2012
Dem surprise pickup RT @byersalex RT @politico: Erickson mulls Chambliss challenge: politi.co/TsHeyb
— Hollywood Politics (@Hwoodpolitix) November 28, 2012
@icaruspundit Chambliss vs Erickson.Wouldn’t that be a fun one to watch?As a Democrat, I say “Go for it, Erick!!!”
— Larry Felton Johnson (@larryfeltonj) November 28, 2012
This is apparently a recent development, as one week ago Erickson forcefully shot down the idea when someone mentioned it on Twitter.
@mikedevinelaw No
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 20, 2012
So, are you ready for the first blogger in the United States Senate?
Update: Erickson tweets about how he would vote if he were Senator:
If I were a senator I’d object to every UC, until Obamacare was repealed. Shut down the Senate lest they shut down America
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 28, 2012
If I were a Senator, I’d sure as heck not have voted for TARP.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 28, 2012
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Update: Georgia Tip Sheet has the audio from Erickson’s show. A partial transcript:
For a week now, I’ve been getting calls to see if I would challenge Saxby Chambliss, once he really got into the whole ‘raising taxes issue,’” Erickson said in the opening segment of his radio show Tuesday. “Well, the pace quickened. I got a lot of people pledging a lot of money in the last couple of days if I did something like this. And I’ve been very adamant, I wasn’t going to do it, but after a few conversations today with a few heavy hitters in Washington, D.C. and some here in Georgia, I should at least consider it.
Read more: http://twitchy.com/2012/11/27/coming-soon-us-senator-erick-erickson/
