Republican strategists wary of relying on a Republican National Committee beset by controversy are relying on third-party organizations to fund and manage crucial ground game operations for the midterm elections.

The situation is similar to Democratic maneuvering in 2006 to compensate for what was perceived as an inept and underfunded Democratic National Committee. Four years ago, the chairmen of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee "” lacking confidence in then-DNC Chairman Howard Dean's 50-state strategy "” collaborated to create their own get-out-the-vote operation from scratch, with the DSCC investing about $20 million alone in the endeavor.

This year, the shoe is on the other foot....