The Other McCain

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Why Christine O’Donnell Is Surging: Three Ads From Tea Party Express

Posted on | September 13, 2010 | 26 Comments

O’Donnell’s unexpected last-minute surge in the Delaware GOP Senate primary has caught some people flat-footed. How did this happen? It’s simple: For the first time, RINO Mike Castle is being called to account for his record with a series of hard-hitting ads (two on TV and one on radio) from the Tea Party Express:

Let’s not overlook everything that everyone has done to help make this a competitive primary. Mark Levin has done yeoman’s work and Sarah Palin’s endorsement was crucial. But those who kept pushing the same tired bandwagon argument — “Castle can win, O’Donnell can’t” — were doing so without considering what might happen when, for the first time in his career, Castle had to defend his record against this kind of conservative ad campaign.

CHRISTINE O’DONNELL for U.S. SENATE

Comments

26 Responses to “Why Christine O’Donnell Is Surging: Three Ads From Tea Party Express”

  1. Dave
    September 13th, 2010 @ 9:06 pm

    This kind of conservative ad campaign can possibly get Castle to lose a primary. I still don’t think it can get O’Donnell to win a general election in Delaware.

  2. Dave
    September 13th, 2010 @ 5:06 pm

    This kind of conservative ad campaign can possibly get Castle to lose a primary. I still don’t think it can get O’Donnell to win a general election in Delaware.

  3. Joe
    September 13th, 2010 @ 9:37 pm

    Hey, life has risks. There are smart risks like Miller against Murkowski or Rubio against Crist. And hopeless ones like J.D. Hayworth (sorry Stacy but that was a non starter). There are candidates like Kurt Dieder who lose primaries and then try to hurt the winner (Rossi) in the general (fortunately his own supporters told him to shut up and get on the side of angels fighting Patty Sneakers Murray).

    If O’Donnell pulls this off, Castle should be a man and support her completely. We are watching you Mike.

  4. Joe
    September 13th, 2010 @ 5:37 pm

    Hey, life has risks. There are smart risks like Miller against Murkowski or Rubio against Crist. And hopeless ones like J.D. Hayworth (sorry Stacy but that was a non starter). There are candidates like Kurt Dieder who lose primaries and then try to hurt the winner (Rossi) in the general (fortunately his own supporters told him to shut up and get on the side of angels fighting Patty Sneakers Murray).

    If O’Donnell pulls this off, Castle should be a man and support her completely. We are watching you Mike.

  5. wombat-socho
    September 13th, 2010 @ 7:26 pm

    What tends to get overlooked here is that Castle isn’t a lock to win the general election anyway. If O’Donnell defeats Castle in the primary, and then loses in the general, we’re no worse off than we were before – the Dems hold the seat. People need to calm the f*ck down and quit shooting at friendlies.

  6. wombat-socho
    September 13th, 2010 @ 11:26 pm

    What tends to get overlooked here is that Castle isn’t a lock to win the general election anyway. If O’Donnell defeats Castle in the primary, and then loses in the general, we’re no worse off than we were before – the Dems hold the seat. People need to calm the f*ck down and quit shooting at friendlies.

  7. Why Christine O’Donnell Is Surging: Three Ads From Tea Party Express | Liberty News
    September 13th, 2010 @ 8:14 pm

    […] (Cross-posted at The Other McCain.) This entry was posted in 2010 Elections. Bookmark the permalink. ← Change We Can Believe In? […]

  8. Joe
    September 14th, 2010 @ 12:25 am

    Heart break! Dr. Charles Xavier joins the forces of evil RINO-dom.

  9. Joe
    September 13th, 2010 @ 8:25 pm

    Heart break! Dr. Charles Xavier joins the forces of evil RINO-dom.

  10. Joe
    September 14th, 2010 @ 12:29 am

    wombat-socho. I agree. If Mike Castle is so weak that Christine O’Donnell can take him out then he was not going to be that strong in the general. I trust the Republicans in Delaware to make the right choice.

    But your caution goes both ways. If Castle pulls this out, I better see O’Donnell supporters backing him. And if O’Donnell wins, Castle supporters (starting with Mike) better be there for her.

  11. Joe
    September 13th, 2010 @ 8:29 pm

    wombat-socho. I agree. If Mike Castle is so weak that Christine O’Donnell can take him out then he was not going to be that strong in the general. I trust the Republicans in Delaware to make the right choice.

    But your caution goes both ways. If Castle pulls this out, I better see O’Donnell supporters backing him. And if O’Donnell wins, Castle supporters (starting with Mike) better be there for her.

  12. dad29
    September 14th, 2010 @ 1:00 am

    Well….

    Seems that Castle is also a pro-abort (R), which ices it for me.

    You’re right, Stacy: the Conservatives can NOT win if they don’t engage the battle.

    By the way, isn’t New Jersey a “liberal” state?

    So what’s Christie doing in that Governor’s Chair?

  13. dad29
    September 13th, 2010 @ 9:00 pm

    Well….

    Seems that Castle is also a pro-abort (R), which ices it for me.

    You’re right, Stacy: the Conservatives can NOT win if they don’t engage the battle.

    By the way, isn’t New Jersey a “liberal” state?

    So what’s Christie doing in that Governor’s Chair?

  14. ‘Destructive’! ‘Capricious’! ‘Irresponsible!’ : The Other McCain
    September 13th, 2010 @ 10:19 pm

    […] certainty that Mike Castle would be a “shoo-in” is equally questionable. If a Tea Party Express ad buy totalling something like $200,000 can put Castle in jeopardy of losing the GOP primary, exactly […]

  15. Old Rebel
    September 14th, 2010 @ 2:26 am

    Notice that Charles Krauthammer has called Palin names for endorsing O’Donnell. Castle has been a consistent supporter of the Neocon Wars, which is the only criterion that matters to Krauthammer.

    More proof he’s no conservative; he’s a big-government, pro-war, any war Neocon.

  16. Old Rebel
    September 13th, 2010 @ 10:26 pm

    Notice that Charles Krauthammer has called Palin names for endorsing O’Donnell. Castle has been a consistent supporter of the Neocon Wars, which is the only criterion that matters to Krauthammer.

    More proof he’s no conservative; he’s a big-government, pro-war, any war Neocon.

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  18. Estragon
    September 14th, 2010 @ 5:58 am

    Castle is undefeated in statewide races in Delaware, I think 11 or 12 total. He won in the Democratic years of 2006 and 2008. Saying he might not win the general when he is the most favorably viewed politician in the state of either party, and has that winning streak and kept it going against the wave, makes no sense.

    I’m sure the ads are helping O’Donnell – the wave of endorsements hasn’t exactly hurt, either – but the electability argument isn’t that she can’t win the primary, it’s that she can’t win the general. So far, nothing besides wishful thinking contradicts it.

  19. Estragon
    September 14th, 2010 @ 1:58 am

    Castle is undefeated in statewide races in Delaware, I think 11 or 12 total. He won in the Democratic years of 2006 and 2008. Saying he might not win the general when he is the most favorably viewed politician in the state of either party, and has that winning streak and kept it going against the wave, makes no sense.

    I’m sure the ads are helping O’Donnell – the wave of endorsements hasn’t exactly hurt, either – but the electability argument isn’t that she can’t win the primary, it’s that she can’t win the general. So far, nothing besides wishful thinking contradicts it.

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  21. John
    September 14th, 2010 @ 2:51 pm

    As a Republican in Delaware, I can assure you that the state that elected and then re-elected Biden as Senator (for far too many years) will never send O’Donnell to Washington. Even if she crushes Castle in the primary, she doesn’t stand a chance in November.

    There are too many people here that walk in the booth and are inclined to vote Democrat straight down the ticket. Castle, with his long (RINO) service would at least take some of those votes. O’Donnell won’t.

    Wake up, she is a losing cause.

  22. John
    September 14th, 2010 @ 10:51 am

    As a Republican in Delaware, I can assure you that the state that elected and then re-elected Biden as Senator (for far too many years) will never send O’Donnell to Washington. Even if she crushes Castle in the primary, she doesn’t stand a chance in November.

    There are too many people here that walk in the booth and are inclined to vote Democrat straight down the ticket. Castle, with his long (RINO) service would at least take some of those votes. O’Donnell won’t.

    Wake up, she is a losing cause.

  23. Delaware Primary
    September 14th, 2010 @ 10:05 pm

    […] campaign in Delaware,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee executive director Rob JesmerDelaware Primary – “We congratulate Christine O'Donnell for her nomination this evening after a hard-fought […]

  24. Eric
    September 17th, 2010 @ 7:32 pm

    […]Castle is undefeated in statewide races in Delaware, I think 11 or 12 total. He won in the Democratic years of 2006 and 2008. Saying he might not win the general when he is the most favorably viewed politician in the state of either party, and has that winning streak and kept it going against the wave, makes no sense.[…]

    He held a house seat he’s had for decades. The democrates didn’t put up much of a fight for the seat. If he’s so good, then why didn’t he run against Biden for Senate 2 years ago? She did. Its nice to run races only when you think you can win. Too bad he misjudged. The DE GOP has to answer for the same thing. She was good enough to sacrifice two years ago but isn’t good enough now? I think the lamb became a grizzly.

    BTW I am speaking as a DE Repub. that voted for her in the primaries. I’d rather run a true conservative and win or lose on ideals, rather that put up RINO.

  25. Eric
    September 17th, 2010 @ 3:32 pm

    […]Castle is undefeated in statewide races in Delaware, I think 11 or 12 total. He won in the Democratic years of 2006 and 2008. Saying he might not win the general when he is the most favorably viewed politician in the state of either party, and has that winning streak and kept it going against the wave, makes no sense.[…]

    He held a house seat he’s had for decades. The democrates didn’t put up much of a fight for the seat. If he’s so good, then why didn’t he run against Biden for Senate 2 years ago? She did. Its nice to run races only when you think you can win. Too bad he misjudged. The DE GOP has to answer for the same thing. She was good enough to sacrifice two years ago but isn’t good enough now? I think the lamb became a grizzly.

    BTW I am speaking as a DE Repub. that voted for her in the primaries. I’d rather run a true conservative and win or lose on ideals, rather that put up RINO.

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