Poised for Gains, GOP Tries to Contain Gaffes

Just 13 days remain until voters go to the polls in what could be a power-shifting election. Republicans are poised to make big gains, but some GOP candidates have been giving their party a new batch of worries with bizarre and controversial comments, reports CBS News congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes.

Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell actually drew gasps from her audience with a recent remark - asking "Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?"

O'Donnell and her opponent Chris Coons were debating the teaching of creationism in schools when O'Donnell, who calls herself a strict constitutionalist, appeared unaware of one of the constitution's most basic tenets.

"You're telling me that the separation of church and state is found in the first amendment?" she asked.

"'Government shall make no establishment of religion,'" Coons quoted.

O'Donnell's reply: "That's in the first amendment?"

With Election Day approaching some candidates who rode to Republican nominations on Tea Party energy, are now sounding more moderate

Interactive Map: CBS News Election 2010 Race Ratings
CBSNews.com Special Report: Campaign 2010

In Florida's senate debate Tuesday, front runner Marco Rubio pledged his support to protect Social Security benefits, including his own mother's.

"She depends on it," Rubio said. "I would never support any changes to social security that would adversely impact her."

In Tuesday night's Illinois senate debate, where the contest for President Obama's old senate seat is neck-and-neck, both candidates were in attack mode. Republican Mark Kirk questioned his opponents business history and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias challenged Kirk's accounts of his military service.

Despite the mudslinging and gaffes, Republicans remain poised for big gains.

"I still think, regardless of the comments by Christine O'Donnell … I still think that net-net, the Tea Party movement activism, the intensity will help, particularly in the House of Representatives," Republican strategist Dan Bartlett told CBS' "The Early Show" Wednesday.

But as a Democrat, "I think you'd rather run against a Tea Party candidate," said Democratic strategist Jamal Brown. "We can see the places where the Tea Party has hurt the Republicans. It's yet to be seen whether or not having these tea party candidates is going to help the Republicans yet because we don't know what will happen if they had a regular, normal establishment conservative on the ballot."

[liv549]

Years of idiotic corporate adoring trickle down economics nearly brought us to another great depression just before this president took over. I just hope we eventually recover from what they have done. The jury is still out.

I can't believe that anyone would vote for more of it. Its like having a neighbor that mugged and robbed your family and letting a few months go by you ask them to come hang out for sunday dinners again.

[starving1968-3]

by bryanwhitley1970 October 21, 2010 8:18 PM EDT
WELL YOU ARE FORGETTING SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT! iF YOU LOKK BACK OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION " WHERE ARE ALL THE JOBS THAT WERE PROMISED IN 08 AND IN THE LAST CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION????"AND THE HEALTHCARE THAT WAS SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS WITH OUT ASKING OR EVEN CONSIDERING A NATIONAL VOTE ON IT. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
First of all, the jobs that you are looking for were all shipped overseas under the republicans watch. Some 6 million manufacturing jobs went "offshore" from 2001 - 2007. The democrats are now trying to repeal tax breaks for companies that have shipped jobs overseas, but the republicans are fighting them tooth and nail. ____ Secondly, we don't put item up to "national votes", (also known as referendums). We are a representative democracy, and we elect the people to go to Washington and represent us, which is exactly what they did in reforming the nightmarish health insurance industry.

[tryhonesty]

RepubliCON TeaPOTs (Dopes) avoid gaffes??? Yea, right. The Greedy OLD Party RepubliCAN'Ts have the largest collection of dummies (so called candidates) ever. These Bozos will run a lemonade stand into the ground, just like Shrub did!

[noloyalisti]

If you want to vote for the filthy rich and vote against your jobs and homes, social security and medicare benefits, vote Republican Tea Bag.

If you value America and democracy, vote Democratic. If you hate endless war and value human and civil rights, vote Democratic.

[bryanwhitley1970]

WELL YOU ARE FORGETTING SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT! iF YOU LOKK BACK OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION " WHERE ARE ALL THE JOBS THAT WERE PROMISED IN 08 AND IN THE LAST CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION????"AND THE HEALTHCARE THAT WAS SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS WITH OUT ASKING OR EVEN CONSIDERING A NATIONAL VOTE ON IT. SO WHAT YOU ARE SAYIN ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS IS THE EXACT SAME THING THAT IS BEING SAID ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS!!! SORRY TO DISPPOINT YOU BUT YOU DO NEED TO STUDY THE FACTS AND GET THE CORRECT BEFORE MAKING SUCH A BOLD STATEMENT. NO OFFENSE TO YOU OR ANYONE ELSE.

[truth-b-toll]

Good post.
America will regret allowing the tea-gop to scare em into a huge mistake...

[rwhprism]

Just remember to vote for the tea party endorsement. So stoked to see the results Nov 2nd.

[noloyalisti]

To explain: the horror of the Republican Tea Bag Party is that they started two endless occupations, illegally spied on US citizens, and destroyed the American economy.

They are campaigning on more of the same, ending social security and medicare and further turning the government over to their corporate masters. That is the horror.

So now a lot of the Democratic representatives are pulling ahead because people are realizing that that party has done some good for the people. And the other party is horrorble.

[ViciousAlienKlown]

Why is it that the women of the Tea Party are as dumb as rocks? They claim to want to use the Constitution as a strict guide for governing but have no idea what is written in it, scary.

[dance-like-devrish25]

Go around and quiz all 100 senators and 435 congress men and women what is in a particular ammendment and see what their answers are. Most will know about the 1st (the fundamental rights), 2nd (gun control). The lawyers will know about the 5th (due process-federal) and the 14th (due process-state). But thats it. Our elected officials are not elected because their brighter than the rest of us. Their elected because the know how to talk a good game. O'Donnell got busted because someone called her out. Call out the rest and most of them will be busted as well.

[noloyalisti]

I have to hand it to the Democrats who are running against these crazy, lying Republican Tea Bag people. It must be extremely difficult to not laugh out loud or just tell them to their faces what a joke they are. And point out on national TV their bald faces lies and ignorance.

[noloyalisti]

Fortunately, I think the American people are finally recognizing the horror represented by the Republican Tea Bag Party. They are fully behind the corporate takeover of the government by the giant corporations.

That can only spell doom for jobs, human rights, medical benefits, social security, medicare and democracy. Thank God the tide is turning.

[dance-like-devrish25]

Why do you think the people are recognizing "the horror"? All polls indicate the house will go to the republicans and the senate may follow. The only thing the American people are recognizing is that Obama talked himself into office, but now that he's there, he's about as capable as George Custer.

[noloyalisti]

Since you guys want to debate the Bill of Rights because there are some people not embarrassed by O'Dummell, fine.

The Bill of Rights contains numerous conditional rights such as the 1st and 2nd. So they are subject to CONDITIONS placed on them and are subject to local modification and interpretation.

BTW, the Boston Tea Party and the Revolution was about domination of the colonies by a CORPORATION, the East India Company. They were having their way with the government of England, just the way the big corporations are manipulating the US government today.

[infantryman1968]

LOL! Your revolution is over. Dont Jump!

[infantryman1968]

variablespanner, Take a deap breath, your revolution is almost over.