Republican Senate hopefuls have been left holding an empty sack of air thanks to a tried and true campaign tactic employed this season by Rep. Connie Mack IV: If you’re far enough ahead in the polls, just ignore your opponents.

Thanks to a golden family name, Rep. Mack — formally Cornelius Harvey McGillicuddy IV — has avoided all interaction with his primary opponents. For the most part, he’s ducked contact with the general public in anything less than controlled circumstances. It’s a “rose garden” strategy in extremis. And, boy, is it working. Now.