See, Hawley’s objection – if he were the only voice among Republican senators doing this – could be dismissed as the strategy of an ambitious young politician who wants to make a name for himself before the 2024 Republican primaries.
But when Cruz, who also wants to run for president (again) in 2024, and 10 other Republican senators announced that they would also oppose the results of the Electoral College, the issue became indisputable and inadmissible for Republicans.
Because now almost 25% of the 52 Republican senators in office plan to take action to challenge the results, which have been certified in all 50 states and to which no serious objection can be raised.
“The eleven Cruz realize that their effort is going nowhere. Both houses of Congress would have to vote to support objections to voters. Neither will, nor should., This is neither the way nor the forum to do so. “
Which Cruz gambito go What to do is make it impossible for Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) to cast that vote as anything other than a pure test of loyalty to Trump.
And that is a problem for people like Sens. Rob Portman (Ohio), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Roy Blunt (Missouri) who a) said they will not support the objection and b) are being re-elected in 2022.
This trio is now ripe for the challenges of primaries backed by Trump by candidates who can point to Wednesday’s vote as a time of choice between “real” Republicans and RINOs (Republicans in name only).
The point: Ted Cruz was never very popular with his colleagues in the Senate. And it will not help.