'Attention-getting antics': A big lesson learned after Boebert's victory
Colorado Republican firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert's GOP primary win Tuesday served as a clear beacon — antics matter. Even when they aren't always positive.
That's according to Business Insider analyst Bryan Metzger, who noted Tuesday night that Boebert overcame "significant headwinds" to pull off a win, with scandals ranging from getting caught fondling a date at a Denver theater putting on a "Beetlejuice" production to her eldest son being arrested on 22 charges — including a felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony.
Days before her victory, Boebert also echoed the racist "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory, which many on the right have peddled to convince Americans that Democrats are letting in droves of migrants to pad their voter rolls.
None of this prevented Boebert from securing a primary win in her new district. Rather, it proved that "attention-getting tactics can pay off," Metzger said — and other GOP candidates ought to pay attention.
"Love her or hate her, you probably know who Lauren Boebert is, especially if you live in Colorado," he said, pointing to polling in May that found she had "by far" the largest name recognition among Republican primary voters.
He added that in 2024, it's seemingly more important for candidates' survival to dive into national politics amid a "dissolution of local issues and concerns into a stew of nation narratives."
"After all," Metzger said, "how else would voters in Boebert's new district have known her name if she wasn't constantly appearing on cable news stations, or if she didn't have a massive social media following?"
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