Lost Credibility, Terrible Press, and a Skipped Hearing: What to Know About The Rough First Months of Thom Tillis’ Re-election Campaign

It’s only July of the off-year, but Republican Senator Thom Tillis is already in deep trouble in his re-election campaign in North Carolina.

Ever since his “Olympic gold flip-flop” that threatened funding for North Carolina military projects, Tillis has been losing support and credibility among North Carolina Republicans. And the bad news hasn’t stopped there. He’s gained a primary challenger and lost former donors, skipped a Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on issues critical to the state he’s supposed to be serving, and been called out in the press for his all-around spinelessness – all while being dogged by his deeply unpopular efforts that would drive up health care costs and tear down coverage protections for North Carolinians with pre-existing conditions. Now, nearly 16 months before Election Day, Tillis is already having to get bailed out by President Trump in a desperate attempt to shore up his struggling campaign.

As Trump heads to North Carolina today, here’s a look at how poorly Tillis is doing:

• Charlotte Observer: “With Obamacare on trial, Democrats slam Sen. Thom Tillis over health care”
• Raleigh News & Observer: Democrats call for Sen. Tillis to take stand against ACA lawsuit
• WTVD Raleigh: Some North Carolinians call on Senator Tillis to take stand against ACA lawsuit
• Charlotte Observer (Editorial): Tillis “once at least pretended to stand up to the worst of Donald Trump. Now, apparently, he has abandoned the state he represents for the president he thinks he needs.”
• Raleigh News & Observer: They gave to Tillis in the past. Now they’re leading his GOP rival’s first fundraiser.
• Politics NC: Shameless Thom Tillis
• WBTV Charlotte: Tillis skipped Senate VA Committee hearing to attend fundraiser in Greensboro
• Raleigh News & Observer: Raleigh businessman challenging Tillis in GOP Senate primary airing TV ads this week
• Washington Post (Opinion): Tillis and others tried to mollify Trump and wound up pleasing no one
• Morning Consult: Thom Tillis Loses Credibility With North Carolina Republicans
• Washington Examiner: NC Republican Sen. Thom Tillis flip-flops his way toward primary challenge
• Greensboro News & Record (LTE): Sen. Tillis disappoints with his vote reversal
• Lexington Dispatch (LTE): Weak-spined Tillis bows to Trump
• Fayetteville Observer (Editorial): Our View: Tillis performs an Olympic gold flip-flop 
• CBC (Editorial): Sen. Tillis delivers flip-flop for the ages
• Raleigh News & Observer (Editorial): Thom Tillis deserts himself for Trump
• WFAE (Opinion): For Thom Tillis, This Was Not A Profile In Courage
• Asheville Citizen Times: NC Republican Sen. Tillis flips on emergency wall funding, supports Trump
• Greensboro News & Record (Editorial): Read Thom Tillis’ lips
• The New York Times (Opinion): Senator Hypocrisy (R-N.C.)
• National Journal: The GOP’s Spineless Caucus

BONUS: WATCH: Tillis’ trainwreck TV interview proves why he’s running scared

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