The confrontation at the airport couldn't help Ford, but I don't think it got enough play to make a difference (not in Nashville at least).
Ford's bigger problem was not having a strong enough counter-attack to the "attended Playboy events" and the "call me" ads and even the "missed votes" ads. He had one take the high road ad (defending attacks on his family), but he never hit back with anything but recycled charges on immigration and the 911 calls. Those were ok to get him going, but he needed something new and something aggressive, and it never aired, at least not in Nashville.
He could've fought back on those, even without playing race, but he didn't. His "I like sports and I like women" defense was the nail in the coffin.
The confrontation at the airport couldn't help Ford, but I don't think it got enough play to make a difference (not in Nashville at least).
Ford's bigger problem was not having a strong enough counter-attack to the "attended Playboy events" and the "call me" ads and even the "missed votes" ads. He had one take the high road ad (defending attacks on his family), but he never hit back with anything but recycled charges on immigration and the 911 calls. Those were ok to get him going, but he needed something new and something aggressive, and it never aired, at least not in Nashville.
He could've fought back on those, even without playing race, but he didn't. His "I like sports and I like women" defense was the nail in the coffin.