WHEN Tim Murphy resigned from his post as the representative for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district, Republicans had a heavy load lifted from their shoulders. Mr Murphy, publicly a social conservative, was caught sending text messages to his mistress urging her to have an abortion. His re-election campaign would have road-tested the proposition that partisanship covers all sins. The outlook for Republicans was looking good for the special election that takes place on March 13th to replace him, until it wasn't. Republican state representative and Har-risburg insider Rick Saccone will face off against a former marine and assistant us attorney, Conor Lamb. Republicans have spent more than $9m to preserve control of a district President Donald Trump won by 20 points. They have reason to worry even that sum might not be enough.
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