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PrintAugust 4, 2009
GOP upset victory in Delaware special election (updated)
Roughly one month ago Delaware State Senator (Senator President Pro Tem as well) Thurman Adams (D) died at the age of 80 from a bout with pancreatic cancer. There was a special election yesterday and the two front runners were Joe Booth (R) and Polly Adams Mervine (D and daughter of the late Senator Thurman Adams). Polly had two major things going for her:
1) she is a Democrat; and
2) she is the daughter of Thurman.
Legacy politics is the political way of life in Delaware. Beau Biden won the AG's spot because of his last name... nothing else.
Nevertheless Joe Booth won, taking a seat that was held by the Democratic Party for roughly 40 years in a state where the Democrats rule the House, Senate, and the Governor's office.
What is most remarkable about the win was the margin. Joe garnered over 60% of the vote in a heavy Democrat area and trounced Adams Mervine by 30 points.
I went to a couple of the polling places and the turn out for Republicans was huge. Far be it from me to say this is a bellwether, but I would venture a guess that the current state of local and national politics is beginning to bring out the conservative wing of the Republican Party here. And if it can happen here it will likely happen elsewhere.
The only state-wide elected Republican is Mike Castle. Yeah, that Mike Castle, one of the eight Republicans that voted for Cap and Trade. He had a town hall that was put on you tube and subsequently posted on Drudge. He was holding a Town Hall on Health care and what you see transpired. People (Republicans particularly) are angry at Castle and I think his days are numbered.
There will be another Special Election here in DE to fill Booth's seat he vacated in the House and we will see how that goes. But from everything I garner here, there is going to be a shakeup here in state politics that may translate to bigger and better things.
Update from Brett McCrae:
Joe Booth won with over 60% of the vote. That happened despite Polly Adams Mervine raising over 2 times the money. Joe raised about $20,000 while Polly raised over $52,000. I am not a political expert but I don’t think that happens all too often. More food for thought.
Update from Brett McCrae:
Joe Booth won with over 60% of the vote. That happened despite Polly Adams Mervine raising over 2 times the money. Joe raised about $20,000 while Polly raised over $52,000. I am not a political expert but I don’t think that happens all too often. More food for thought.
