For Koch group, winning is rising as priority versus purity

Columbus, Ohio (AP) — The head of the Koch brothers' flagship political organization says a Republican winning the presidency is becoming a higher priority for more of its members, suggesting a rift between pragmatists and ideologues in its independent-minded membership.

Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips said conservative fatigue after the George W. Bush's presidency in 2008 and overconfidence in beating Barack Obama in 2012 has focused more members on winning back the White House than he's seen since the group formed a decade ago.

"I do think there is a sense of urgency about the future," he said, "that you owe it to your principles to win for those principles."

It's hard to tell how deep the divide between pragmatists and purer ideologues runs, although reactions were mixed at the group's annual summit in Ohio Friday and Saturday. Five presidential candidates addressed the roughly 3,600 conservative activists from around the country, from tea party star Ted Cruz to Jeb Bush, a relative newcomer to the group's events.

"I think people are coming to the conclusion that there is no perfect candidate," Americans for Prosperity Iowa Director Drew Klein said.

Americans for Prosperity spent more than $30 million on television advertising in 2012 attempting to defeat Obama. The group does not plan to endorse a candidate in the Republican primary, but its leaders haven't decided whether they will advertise on behalf of the 2016 GOP nominee, Phillips said.

By Thomas Beaumont, Associated Press. Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – August 23, 2015 @ 2:30pm.