This evening, in the state of Delaware somebody will win the GOP primary, and declare something like, “And now, I ask for all Republicans to unite behind my candidacy.” At that moment, across the state, across the blogosphere, and across the country you will hear supporters of the other candidate wholeheartedly and loudly respond, “[your favorite expletive here]!”
It’s hard to begrudge them. If you’re a Christine O’Donnell supporter, you will have just seen a woman who stands for you and your values absolutely trashed, six ways to Sunday by an opposing campaign, a state party, and a lot of voices who you once thought of as reliable allies. And for who? A fossil who voted the right way barely half the time?
If you’re a Mike Castle supporter, you will have just seen a man who’s spent his career serving Delaware – with nary a peep of serious objection from the state’s GOP grassroots – rejected for daring to deviate from conservative orthodoxy and the chances of a GOP majority in the Senate seem to go up in flames. You’ve watched the opposition misrepresent his record. And for who? A freelance publicist who has never held office before?
I’d like to say I see a good chance of reconciliation, but I would be lying. Everybody feels like they’ve been stabbed in the back. O’Donnell supporters feel like the establishment went after their candidate personally, trying to destroy her reputation. Castle supporters feel like they’ve been demonized for accepting a more moderate choice in a heavily Democratic state.
Unity? The last time Christine O’Donnell lost a primary, she ran as a write-in and won 5 times as many votes in November. What possible motivation does she have to end her campaign tonight? What, she might alienate the party establishment?
If there were six months until Election Day, there might be enough time to heal the wounds; time always does, if you have enough of it. I don’t like being characterized as some lackey for a “Ruling Class”, and I suspect Jeff Lord doesn’t like being called stupid. (I don’t like calling Jeff Lord stupid, either. It’s wrong for me to do that for a lot of reasons, high among them that it makes me sound like Mark Levin.) But sometime soon, Jeff and I will be pulling in the same direction on some other race or issue. (You know, presuming my Ruling Class masters let me.)
The question is, can Delaware Republicans who have invested so much time and passion into this primary fight rise above it? Do they think that stopping Chris Coons is important enough to start laboring to help a candidate they probably can’t stand at this moment?
The opponent in November once described himself as “a bearded Marxist.” Since then, he’s lost he beard. Mike Castle might not do enough for conservatives, and Christine O’Donnell might not always represent them well. But the clean-shaven Marxist will never help a conservative cause unless it’s by accident.
Very good points.
But remember that Castle doesn't absolutely need O'Donnell supporters to win the general. He likely has enough crossover support (whether you think that's good or bad) that he can still pull it out.
O'Donnell can't break 40% (and won't) without Castle voters, which -- and I'm guessing here -- probably don't like her very much.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI hope the candidate who loses tonight will take a deep breath and enthusiastically endorse the GOP winner. Not only would that help build now-broken party unity, it would also create a lot of political good-will for the candidate who is loyal enough to do it, in spite of recent provocation from both sides.
Alternatively, the losing side could throw themselves onto the ground and pound their arms and legs on the grass like a 2-year old, and hold their breath until they turn blue. (Satire on) That sounds like a winning strategy. (Satire off)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCall me crazy, but maybe you should have thought about all of this before you got down in the ditch yourself.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf tonight's loser can mount a write in campaign for Senate, why couldn't the loser mount a write in campaign for the House seat? My understanding is that that seat is currently being conceded to the dems. Is that right?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAll good points. Remember though, that many, maybe most of Castle's people allow that he is wrong on the issues, but that they're voting for him on the "electability" platform. With the exception of the former staffers, O'Donnell's campaign has been about the issues and Castle's record and not personal attacks. O'Donnell will have had her background vetted and have received the party stamp of approval. As for O'D and supporters getting over this overwrought series of personal attacks in league with the state GOP, that's a little taller order. So, for the sake of party unity and victory - vote O'Donell!
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"The opponent in November once described himself as “a bearded Marxist.”"
************************
Considering the supporters of O'Donnell, I would characterize this race thusly:
MarXists vs MarKists
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseA little too late to call for reconciliation at this point, Geraghty. Also quite hypocritical coming from you, who quite willingly particated in the attacks on O'Donnell.
Castle & his supporters blew it. All the negative personal attacks on O'Donnell has backfired big time.
"Electability", Castle's supposedly strongest argument, is mute at this point. If he by some miracle survives the primary after all these missteps, I fully expect conservatives to stay home in November. And I won't blame them.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAfter the way the Castle side has PERSONALLY attacked O'Donnell, screw the Republican Party.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHe refused to debate because he could not defend his record.
The Party Establishment (that bent over circle of butt kissers keeping their heads down because if they raised them up, the hit of fresh oxygen would destroy too many of their miniscule brain cells) has used nothing but personal attacks against O'Donnell because they can not attack her positions.
Its amazing that the Republican Establishment keeps ignoring that the American people rate them at 30% favourable.... can't they figure out why?
Prime example.... this race.
And the winner is: Obama and his agenda. Way to go!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf you are a Castle supporter and have trouble getting behind the Republican nominee of 2008 ... see ya.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis race is ugly on both sides, and niether candidate has anything to be proud of. I do hope whoever loses does the "team thing" and not the "ego thing."
(Besides the ego thing isn't exactly working for Charlie Crist is it? He has flushed his political career right down the toilet, and for what?)
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"After the way the Castle side has PERSONALLY attacked O'Donnell, screw the Republican Party."
A good example of why O'Donnell supporters are the real RINOs. This election has to go my way or I will betray the party blah blah.
You are just a Republican in Name Only. The very thing you criticize Castle for.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAfter reading the cold hard record of O'Donnell (none disputed) she reminds me of the really hott girl (and she is hott, hotter than any other female Repub running this cycle and there are some pretty ones) who you couldn't believe said yes to you when you asked her out.
And then after every date you couldn't believe what you just did, your adrenaline was pumping, your legs tingling, still feel the heat of her against you.
Until finally you realized something wasn't quite right and she wasn't everything she appeared to be. The craziness had to end and when you tried to end it she told you, "boy are you going to regret this."
And you came home and and there was scratches on your car and a broken window and you felt lucky to escape.
It seems from reading this board that Castle may not escape her wrath (or she his--he can have a write in also) and those who supported COD until the bitter end will feel sometime after the election that they rode the roller coaster off the tracks, and for what?
A very nasty ending coming for the DE GOP in Nov it seems. A once in a generation opportunity to steal a seat in a blue state (like in MA) blown.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLet me ask again - what is Christine O'Donnell for? What is her evidence that she can win a general election? What are the reasons to vote for her beyond 'I'm not Mike Castle'? What makes her a good advocate for conservatives, beyond 'I'm not Mike Castle?'
Please do not try to compare her to Pat Toomey (To cite one example previously mentioned.) because Toomey has shown what he stands for, how he is a good advocates for conservatives, and he HAS won general elections among Democrat voters.
Right now, only one Republican is on my 'I will not vote for him under ANY circumstances' and Ron Paul is there because he is Barney Frank identical regarding national security and foreign policy. O'Donnell is not even close in that regard.
But if people want me as a Republican to support O'Donnell (I can not vote for her because I am not a Delaware voter.), I need to know what she is FOR beyond 'not being Mike Castle,' as well as explaining why she, despite her flaws and problems, she is a good advocate for conservatives. Right now, all I hear regarding the first point are crickets.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNice job Jim after you led the charge and even threw in the shot at Levin. Say what you will about Levin, but he's a guy that has gained and imparted more knowledge and demonstrated more scholarship on the US Judiciary and Constitution than you ever have or will. His arguments for O'Donnell are on his facebook page for all to see. He has made better arguments on this in one week than you and the other clown princes in the Castle camp in a year. Go find some solace with guys like Manzi whom will gladly instruct dunces like Castle on cap and tax, which by the way he'll vote for as a senator.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo...When Levin calls people like the guys at Powerline and Ace of Ace of Spades as 'not conservative', he is correct? Because they disagree with his assessment of Castle/O'Donnell?
Really?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse