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Cooper: GOP digging hole for itself

By Clint Cooper March 2, 2016 5 min read

Photo Gallery

Voters flock to the polls in 2016 primary election

Tiffany Reid holds Kayleigh Patterson as she places her ballot in a voting machine after voting in the Super Tuesday primary election at the Bethlehem Center polling location on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Verdell Stewart, left, votes in the Super Tuesday primary election at the Bethlehem Center polling location on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Edward Carter votes in the Super Tuesday primary election at the Bethlehem Center polling location on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Lieutenant Fuquay, left, and Mattie Fuquay cast their ballots in the Super Tuesday primary election at the Bethlehem Center polling location on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Voters arrive to cast their ballots in the Super Tuesday primary election at the Bethlehem Center polling location on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Michael Davis looks out a window at rain during voting in the Super Tuesday primary election at the Bethlehem Center polling location on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Poll worker Ethel Cox, center, helps Mattie Fuquay place her ballot in a voting machine flanked by Sam Moore, left, and Lieutenant Fuquay, right, during the Super Tuesday primary election at the Bethlehem Center polling location on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

A voter enters Concord Baptist Church in East Brainerd on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

A voter enters her ballot before getting a sticker at Concord Baptist Church in East Brainerd on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

Tisha Walker teaches her sons Jonah, 9, and Micah, 7, how to vote while at Concord Baptist Church in East Brainerd on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

Micah, 7, and Jonah, 9, stand with their mother Tisha Walker as she receives her ballot from Betty Lombardo while at Concord Baptist Church in East Brainerd on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

Voters enter Concord Baptist Church in East Brainerd on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

Area residents vote at Concord Baptist Church in East Brainerd on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

Brooke Stanfill votes with her 4-year-old son Charlie while at Concord Baptist Church in East Brainerd on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

Anne Meadows votes at Concord Baptist Church in East Brainerd on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016.

Super Tuesday stories

* Cruz edges Trump in Alaska GOP contest* Sohn: The endless election season lurches ahead * Cooper: GOP digging hole for itself * Voices of voters as they cast ballots on Super Tuesday * Exit poll: Clinton expands base, Trump sells outsider image * Viewer’s Guide: After Super Tuesday, cold hard delegate math * AP News Guide: Decision night, Super Tuesday * Trump claims 7 GOP victories, extending dominance * Clinton solidifies lead with wins in seven states * Trump and Clinton claim big Super Tuesday victories in South* Sanders wins in Colorado, Minnesota; Rubio gets first victory * Cruz, Clinton win in Texas primary; Sanders wins Oklahoma

Every Republican state primary election or caucus from here on out this spring in which there are more than two candidates is another step toward having more of the kind of governance we’ve enjoyed for the past seven years.

For the GOP, it’s a game of political suicide.

Businessman Donald Trump cemented his lead in the delegate count on Super Tuesday, rolling up wins in Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Virginia.

For Republicans, 595 delegates – nearly half the 1,237 needed to clinch the nomination – were available in 11 states.

Clint Cooper

Clint Cooper is the Free Press editor at the Chattanooga Times Free Press, representing the conservative side of the newspaper's opinion section. Previously he worked as the religion editor, assistant sports editor and Metro and Lifestyles staff writer for the newspaper. Clint has received numerous honors over the years for his writing and design including first place awards for Best Editorials and Best Single Editorial from the Tennessee Press Association. The Chattanooga native is a cum laude graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a degree in mass communications and did postgraduate work there in secondary education. Clint and his wife, Donna, have one adult son, Patrick. Contact Clint at 423-757-6497 or ccooper@timesfreepress.com. You may friend him on Facebook.

Contact Clint Cooper at ccooper@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6497.