Where do Tuesday's Primary Election Winners Go from Here?
AP
The fall elections are just that - in the fall... And that's a long time on the political calendar, so last night's elections don't necessarily predict any November contests. They are, though, more data points to consider as we gauge voters' moods right now - and the course that some of the parties' core voters want to chart.
First, we saw a big upset in Pennsylvania as Rep. Joe Sestak beat long-time senator but newly-established Democrat Arlen Specter. In this year when approval of Congress is running only in the teens, Sestak's portrayal of Specter's party switch as a self-interested move, and of himself as the true Democrat, apparently found resonance with the Democratic base.
Joe Sestak: "I Stood Up to My Party"
By the numbers, Specter had hoped to run up big margins in Philadelphia, where party organizing and the backing of the governor and other Democratic officials could work to his strong advantage. But while Specter won Philly with a comfortable margin, with 64 percent, the turnout just wasn't high enough to turn that into a sizeable vote margin. Specter took a 46,000 vote lead away from the city - not enough to overcome Sestak's performance elsewhere in the state. (With some votes still being counted as of this writing.)
Meanwhile, Sestak performed well or held his own in key Democratic areas all over the state. He did well in the Philadelphia suburbs, as well as around Pittsburgh. He held his own in Scranton and won in the county around Allentown.
It was the finale to a dramatic late surge in this race. Specter commanded a more than 20-point lead in a Quinnipiac poll not long ago, had the backing of President Obama and leading Democratic endorsements, and some questioned why Sestak was even running. But Sestak closed the gap -- helped, it appears, by that tough ad linking Specter to his former allies on the GOP side.
Also on the Democratic side, Arkansas incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln survives to fight another day - but there's also cause for concern for her in the results. Lincoln and her challenger, Lt. Gov Bill Halter, are headed to a runoff in June to decide the Democratic nomination, after neither got the 50 percent needed to secure it.
Lincoln wasn't able to secure a majority of Democrats, and it means another three weeks of Democrats battling with each other (instead of their GOP rival, Rep. John Boozman). And Lincoln already had her work cut out for her, running as she is in this state that became more Republican from 2004 to 2008. This primary emphasizes that the Democrats - whoever the nominee - have some work to do to close ranks here before the fall. Lincoln's task is to find a balance, centrist enough to lure independents and moderates in the fall, but appealing to the Democratic base which is, at this point, not yet solidly behind her.
And in Kentucky, on the GOP side, it was a big win for Tea Party activists. They nominated one of their own, Rand Paul, easily beating back a candidate in Trey Grayson who was picked and backed by Republican leaders like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Paul, an ophthalmologist, is the son of Rep. Ron Paul and is a political newcomer.
This was a convincing statewide win. Paul ran well in most areas; he was very strong in vote-rich Louisville (61 percent), did well in Lexington (64 percent) as votes were still coming in, and performed well in other big areas, which may suggest he doesn't have far to go in solidifying the Republican base going forward. The next task will be to make sure he can draw well among moderates and independents come the fall.
Rand Paul to Dems: Please Bring Obama to Kentucky
Paul: Tea Party Ready to "Flex Some Muscle"
Coming off Utah Tea Party activists' defeat of incumbent Bob Bennett at the GOP convention there, this is another win in the Tea Party's attempt to influence the course and policies of the GOP, and the first one coming in primary. Watch, going forward, the extent to which Rand Paul draws national attention even as he campaigns in Kentucky.
Finally, but importantly, a much-watched House contest in Pennsylvania pitted a Democrat versus a Republican amid all these other primary battles. This race was called a bellwether by some - Pennsylvania's 12th, formerly held by the late Rep. Jack Murtha, is a marginal district that Murtha had won as a Democratic incumbent but which voted narrowly for John McCain, too. Both parties saw an opportunity here and put a lot of money in. Last night the Democrat, Mark Critz, won, in this district that's hard-hit economically and can be culturally conservative. It's bound to be seen as a blueprint of sorts for how the Democrats might hold similar seats elsewhere -- in a year that, both based on current assessments and historical trends, looks to be tough in a lot of districts for the party in power. At least as of now.
House Republicans: "We've Got a Lot of Work To Do"
Results:
Roundup: All Winners and Losers
Specter Falls in Pa. Dem Primary to Joe Sestak
Rand Paul Wins Kentucky GOP Primary
Blanche Lincoln, Bill Halter Headed for Run-Off
Dem Wins Special Election for Murtha's Seat
More Analysis:
The Surprises From Tuesday's Primaries
Specter's Loss Goes Beyond Anti-Incumbent Mood
Who Had the Better Spin?
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Because of this that tremendous anti-Obama campaign was hamstrung and so it broke it's chains and turned into an anti-incumbent campaign, which energized the tea-baggers, and it turned and started feeding equally on both the Democrats and Republicans.
The Republicans now are scared to death of what they allowed to get out of control, and the people like Rush the Hut and Palin, each of whom have no stake in the fall elections, are prodding the monster along with their pitchforks, just for their own amusement and just for the sake of causing trouble.
I suspect your going to see as many Republican seats switched over to Democratic, as you see Democratic seats switched over to Republicans.
Then after the big party by all the newbies in the fall, after the elections, the cooler heads at the helm of the Democratic and Republican parties are going to pull these people out behind the woodshed and explain to them how party politics are played. And thus will end all of the talk about "reforming government"
If the American people really wanted to reform government they would elect a whole bunch of independents and throw BOTH the Republicans and Democrats out. But that didn't happen so it's just going to be business as usual after the midterms are over.
Welfare states and cities are out of fashion, and the voters know they deserve better so they kicked this guy out.
Where's the money and power now? The richest county in the country is in Virginia, where the lobbyists live. The fastest growing industry is government work, where you get good pay, quick retirement, and help move the country to a europe-style failed state. Sure, it's easy, but nobody gets rich, your children won't have a better life and adding to bureaucracy does not help us as a country.
The government needs to be scaled back, and if we can't change it from within, we'll just have to keep getting new people in there. Only citizens have the power, vote every incumbent out of office. Accept only people who tell the truth and who will not take part in this pork-fest that washington insider politics has become. Vote the bums out!!
Yeah, gig76 is one of those cut and paste troglodytes who can't think enough to update information from the last election.
Tea Party Members who are Conservative Christian Republicans, GOPers, and who supported President Bush are the group who ran America into the financial losses of October 2008. Are Americans so desparate to vote in Tea Party members to again lead America down the same financial ruins? Think more than once about voting for Tea Party candidates and realize they are the very same conservative Christians (30%) who Karl Rove courted during 2000 and 2004 elections. They also led America into financial ruin as of October 2008. Therefore, are these Tea Party members eager to re run financial ruin of october 2008 to reverse the Recovery Act, that is working, despite their tremendous efforts to again ruin America financially. Palin is angry that she lost, Paul want to take back America to what -- financial ruin again? Think before you vote. Democrats are leading us out of this financial mess that this very Tea Party member group wants to put us back into that financial mess? Why would they want America to be financially ruined? Vote Democrats November 2010, 2012, 2016, and beyond for financial recovery. Small Businesses are getting loans now for mom and pops to sell products and services of American excellence. Why turn back now -- we are on the right road to financial restoration! Vote Democrats 2010, 2012, and beyond! Keep America strong -- Vote Democrats 2010, 2012, 2016, and beyond
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Amen! I hope a lot of people read your message!
The answer lies in taking the power to make decisions for us away from them. America's representative democracy needs an upgrade...with advancements in technology due to the widespread use of the internet, the concept of having a true democracy where everyone's voice counts is now a reality. It is very possible to create some type of system where votes for public office and domestic issues can be submitted and tallied using the internet without getting rid of our 3 branches of government.
It'd take a Constitutional amendment, but it'd move us much closer to the dream our forefathers had of a nation by the people and for the people. It'll never happen tho...seeing as how members of both houses would essentially have to vote to give up their own power and hand it to the people.
People need a reminder of such things.
There's nothing patriotic about the Tea Party Patriots. ... The right-wing populist Tea Party movement has politicians of both parties spooked. ...
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/06/my...tis.../8088/ - Cached
Stop licking the boots of Wall St and corporate America, Washington. Plain and simple, that is what people are telling you. You are and have been destroying this country and the rights of it's people,, the actual majority. Not the tiny minority that have purchased you. I know it is confusing since you have been able to use and abuse with little notice for so long. But you have over stepped and stolen too much,, hurt too many,, and they are looking for the cause. They are looking at you.
Make no mistake just like the republicans were swept from office in 06 and no one really changed. Then another loud and clear message was sent with change o-rama-bama in 08. Still nothing of import changed. Once again on your third try,, wake up and pay attention. Do right by the people you are supposed to, not just big money interests.
People will not quit paying attention while you continue to allow their children to starve and be poisoned and their homes repossessed. All while you line your own pockets further and tell yourselves how very clever you are and how stupid the American public is. After all that is a favorite refrain right? The stupidity of the American public is what makes them the American public. Shocking news dear leaders, not everyone is so stupid.