(Politico) Dozens of candidates, almost exclusively Republicans, have run campaigns this election cycle casting their opponents as national security threats with ties to terrorism. But according to a new study, it won’t help them win.
“It is a losing strategy,” the 51-page report says. “Most of them are on track to lose, if they haven’t already.”
The “Running on Hate” 2018 pre-election report, issued by Muslim Advocates, a civil rights group based in Oakland, Calif., named 80 candidates for federal, state and local office who have expressed anti-Muslim sentiment, based on advertisements and past rhetoric. All but two are Republicans. A dozen of these candidates are safely projected to win in November.
“While many factors contribute to election outcomes, the vast majority of anti-Muslim campaigns have ended in failure — even with clearly credible candidates and in places where President Trump is popular,” the report states.
