Democrat Senate Challengers Reel from FBI Bombshell

Democrats locked in heated contests for the U.S. Senate were caught flat-footed on Friday when the FBI reopened its investigation into Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state.

Proving that the gods of politics enjoy karmic justice, the news about Clinton’s emails was tied to disgraced ex-congressman Anthony Weiner, giving the scandal just enough extra juiciness to ensure the media had to give it ample coverage.

“Jason Kander says Hillary Clinton’s handling of important national security information was a ‘mistake’ … If he really believes that, he should step down as a national co-chairman of her campaign.”

The bombshell news immediately put several Democratic Senate candidates on the defensive — the same candidates who had been happily trying to force their GOP counterparts to answer for every Trump-related controversy in recent weeks.

Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican, was among the first to seize on the opportunity in the new development.

Locked in a fierce battle with Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander, Blunt nearly immediately challenged his opponent to resign from an official role with Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

“Jason Kander says Hillary Clinton’s handling of important national security information was a ‘mistake,’” Blunt said in a statement from his campaign. “If he really believes that, he should step down as a national co-chairman of her campaign.”

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In New Hampshire, Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who has suffered mightily from her own waffling on Trump, combined with sharp Trump-based attacks from her opponent Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan, quickly jumped on the news.

“[Hassan] has repeatedly dismissed Hillary Clinton’s private email server as merely a ’mistake,’ and she has repeatedly dodged questions about her misconduct,” Ayotte said in a statement. “Clinton knowingly jeopardized our national security, and in light of today’s news, Gov. Hassan needs to answer for her inability to call [Clinton] out even on her most egregious national security failures.”

Hassan only mustered a response mirroring a statement put out by Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta calling for more information from the FBI.

In Ohio, former Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, has ducked questions on Clinton as he slips far behind incumbent Republican  Sen. Rob Portman. At a debate on Oct. 14, Strickland blamed Clinton’s problems on conservative critics, echoing the “vast right-wing conspiracy” charge that Clinton herself made in 1998.

Portman did not directly challenge Strickland on the development but did weigh in.

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“Today’s news is troubling & raises concerns about Sec. Clinton’s actions & mishandling of classified information. Americans deserve answers,” Portman tweeted Friday afternoon.

In North Carolina, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) blasted Deborah Ross, the Democrat trying to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Richard Burr.

“Less than 24 hours ago, Deborah Ross happily campaigned in Winston-Salem with Hillary Clinton, who was introduced as ‘the next ‘president,’ the NRSC said in a statement. “But as news breaks today that the FBI is reopening its investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server, Deborah Ross is silent.”

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And in Nevada, where Republicans have their best shot of picking up a Democratic seat and making a net gain of four seats unlikely for the Democrats, GOP Rep. Joe Heck needled his opponent to answer for Clinton’s conduct.

“When will Catherine Cortez Masto stand up to Hillary Clinton’s reckless behavior?” Heck said in a statement on Friday.

Heck’s opponent, former Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, responded meekly through a spokesperson only that Clinton showed poor judgment and that Heck was trying to distract from his support of Trump.

For Democratic Senate candidates, it is likely to be too late to sever ties with Clinton, so weathering this unexpected storm may be their only refuge. The development certainly will lift the GOP’s chances of retaining control of the chamber and more Republicans will likely take the issue on offense as the political fallout for Clinton escalates.