GOP's 'breathlessly cynical' primary trick in Maine floors Chris Hayes

MS NOW's Chris Hayes flagged a suspicious episode of tomfoolery in a Democratic primary in Maine, pulled off by Republican dark money — with a deeply ironic twist.

"As Republicans head towards what is currently looking like it could be a shellacking in November ... they are returning to a time-tested playbook," said Hayes. Specifically, he said, that playbook is "unlimited dark money spending."

One of the strangest instances so far, he said, took place in June, when "there was a competitive Democratic House primary underway in northern Maine. Progressive State Auditor Matt Dunlap was running against the more moderate centrist state Senator Joe Baldacci" — all in a competitive but Trump-leaning district occupied by outgoing Democratic Rep. Jared Golden.

Because of the district's "Trumpy" lean, said Hayes, "conservatives wanted the more progressive candidate."

"They wanted Dunlap to win because they believed he would be easier to defeat in the fall," he said. "And so a Republican-linked dark money group started running attack ads against the other guy, the centrist Baldacci, accusing him of being the candidate — get this, wait for it — who was backed by dark money."

Hayes played the ad.

"Joe Baldacci, the hand-picked yes man of Dark Money D.C.," said the narrator. "He's bankrolled by D.C. and beholden to them, not us. The truth: Joe Baldacci is the only Democrat running for Congress who stands with Trump and opposed implementing Medicare for All Mainers. Good for the establishment, bad for Mainers. Reject dark money and corporate Democrats — vote No on D.C.'s handpicked yes man Joe Baldacci."

The ad, noted Hayes, was cut by a group called "Real Change PAC" — which seems to have Republicans' fingerprints all over it.

"[It's] just preposterously, breathlessly cynical stuff," said Hayes. "A dark money ad by right-wing pro-billionaire interests painting the guy they want to defeat ... as the handpicked yes man of dark money."

Ultimately, he said, Dunlap won that primary. "Now, again, money's not dispositive. I think there's a lot of reasons Maine Democrats in that district clearly had an appetite for progressive fighters this cycle, and Dunlap's still got a chance to hold that race." Nevertheless, he added, "I'm sure having hundreds of thousands of dollars in dark money accusing you of being a simp for dark money dropped on your head didn't do any favors."

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