Iran

Senators Promise War With 'Nuclear Capable' Iran, Don't Define 'Capable'

Ryan J. Reilly | February 16, 2012, 4:20PM

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

A bipartisan coalition of senators essentially promised Thursday that the U.S. would take military action against Iran if they become capable of producing nuclear weapons. Just don't ask them to define "capable."

Thirty-two senators have signed on to sponsor the six-page resolution that "rejects any United States policy that would rely on efforts to contain a nuclear weapons-capable Iran." Some believe it amounts to a promise that the U.S. would use force against Iran if they become capable of producing nuclear weapons, though what precisely "capable" means is up in the air.

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S.978

Does The Commercial Felony Streaming Act Threaten Internet Freedom?

David Taintor | November 2, 2011, 6:10AM

We all had a laugh last week when pop singer Justin Bieber said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) should be thrown in jail for proposing legislation that would make streaming unlicensed content online a felony. But does the bill actually threaten amateur artists?

After Klobuchar introduced S.978, something of an online frenzy broke out in protest. The website FreeBieber.org claimed Bieber faced up to five years in prison if the bill were to pass. Many have written that Bieber is safe from prosecution. But the reality might be slightly more complicated.

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9/11

Democrats Aghast Over GOP Blocking 9/11 Responders Bill

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 9, 2010, 3:26PM

Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY)

The Senate Republicans did what they said they'd do today -- they blocked a bill aimed at providing over $7 billion in federal money for 9/11 responders and their families because it came before a vote on taxes. But despite the almost scripted outcome, Democratic Senators behind the bill seemed shocked at the outcome.

"We are gravely disappointed," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a key sponsor of the bill, told reporters following the failed cloture vote. "When every Senator on the Republican side signed a letter saying no business can be done until they had a vote a vote on a tax issue, I find [it] to be morally reprehensible."

Sen. Chris Coons, a Democratic Senator from Delaware for all of three weeks, said the bill was the first one he chose to co-sponsor. The fact that the GOP stopped it in its tracks (for now, at least) was a surprise, he said.

"If patriotism means anything, if respect for the victims of 9/11 means anything, it should mean this," he said. "This Senate should be able to come together across this shocking partisan divide and support a bill such as this."

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Democrats

What To Expect From The Lame Duck Senate This Week (Hint: Not Much)

Brian Beutler | November 15, 2010, 11:00AM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) with Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Charles Schumer (D-NY)

Lame duck session begins today -- time for Democrats to squeeze through as much of their remaining agenda items as they can while they still enjoy large majorities, right?

Maybe eventually. The lame duck session could last until Christmas. But for now, Congress will only be in session for a few days before adjourning for a brief Thanksgiving recess. In that time the Senate plans to address -- or attempt to address -- three issues, leaving most of the big ticket items to be dealt with in December.

On Wednesday, the Senate will attempt to end filibusters on three pieces of legislation: one to promote natural gas and electric vehicles; one to close the pay gap between men and women; and food safety legislation third to enhance federal inspection and recall authority.

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Christine O'Donnell

Christine O'Donnell In Concession Speech: 'We Have Won' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | November 2, 2010, 11:03PM

Republican Christine O'Donnell may have lost the race for Delaware Senate tonight, but in her concession speech she was unfazed: "We worked hard, we had an incredible victory. Be encouraged. We have won. The Delaware political system will never be the same."

She added: "My joking big brother goes: 'We won? Did we miss something?' You know what I meant."

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DE-SEN

Democrat Chris Coons Beats The Memorable Christine O'Donnell For Delaware Senate Seat

Eric Kleefeld | November 2, 2010, 8:02PM

Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell and Sen.-elect Chris Coons (D-DE)

In one disappointment for the Tea Party Movement tonight, Republican activist Christine O'Donnell has lost the Delaware Senate race to the Democratic nominee, New Castle County Executive Chris Coons.

With 0% of precincts reporting, Coons has been projected as the winner by CNN and Fox News.

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DE-SEN

Monmouth Poll: O'Donnell Closes Gap In DE-SEN, But Still Trails By Double-Digits

Eric Kleefeld | October 29, 2010, 10:21AM

Christine O'Donnell (R), and Chris Coons (D), candidates for Senate in Delaware.

The new Monmouth University poll of the Delaware Senate race has Democrat Chris Coons's lead over Republican activist Christine O'Donnell shrinking, but Coons is still ahead by ten points.

The numbers: Coons 51%, O'Donnell 41%. The survey of likely voters has a ±4% margin of error. In the previous Monmouth poll from just over two weeks ago, Coons led by a wider margin of 57%-38%.

[TPM SLIDESHOW - Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee]

From the pollster's analysis: "While Coons still has the advantage, it has to be uncomfortable knowing that O'Donnell was able to shave 9 points off his lead in just two weeks. The interesting thing is that while her vote total has risen, the majority of Delaware voters still say she is unqualified for the post."

The TPM Poll Average gives Coons a lead of 55.2%-37.7%.

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DE-SEN

Fairleigh Dickinson Poll: Chris Coons Leads O'Donnell By 21 Points In DE-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2010, 4:02PM

Chris Coons (D)

The new Fairleigh Dickinson poll of Delaware again finds that Democrat Chris Coons is cruising to a landslide victory over Republican activist Christine O'Donnell. And again, we find that the GOP would have probably won this thing if they had nominated the moderate Congressman Mike Castle.

The numbers: Coons 57%, O'Donnell 36%. In the previous Fairleigh Dickinson poll from early October, Coons led by 53%-36%.

As for a Castle-Coons matchup, the GOPer Castle leads by 54%-33%, up from a 50%-36% lead int he last poll. Then again, you have to wonder if Castle now has a crucial advantage in polls these days, bound to give a candidate a boost in this anti-establishment political environment: He's not actually running for office anymore.

The survey of likely voters has a ±3.5% margin of error.

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DE-SEN

Radio Station: O'Donnell Threatened To Sue Us For...Posting An Interview Online!

Eric Kleefeld | October 27, 2010, 2:19PM

Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell (R)

Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell has joined the ranks of Republicans who take a hard line with reporters when things go wrong -- in this case, a local radio station in Delaware says, her campaign threatened to sue them if they posted an interview online.

As WDEL reports/announces, O'Donnell appeared with talk radio host Rick Jensen, and took questions from Jensen and from callers, as well as listener-submitted questions that Jensen presented to her:

At the conclusion of the interview, a representative from the campaign who had been in the broadcast studio with O'Donnell asked that the video be turned over to the campaign and not released. He stated that the videotaping had not been approved by the O'Donnell campaign.

O'Donnell also told show host Rick Jensen that she would sue the radio station if the video was released.

WDEL routinely posts audio and video podcasts of interview segments on WDEL.com. O'Donnell's appearance on WDEL in September had also been recorded and posted on the web.

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DE-SEN

O'Donnell: Prayer For My Campaign 'Plays A Direct Role' In The Polls (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 25, 2010, 6:15PM

Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell (R-DE), in an interview on Christian Broadcasting Network

In an interview with David Brody on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell expanded on her previous statements that her campaign for Senate is a mission from God. Indeed, she added that an improvement in the polls was divine intervention, an answer to the prayers of her supporters.

"God is the reason that I'm running," said O'Donnell. "If I didn't believe that there were a cause greater than myself worth fighting for, if I didn't believe that it takes a complete dying of self to make things right in this election cycle I would not be running and when you die to yourself you rely on a power greater than yourself so prayer is what's gotten us all through.

"The day that we saw a spike in the polls was a day that some people had a prayer meeting for me that morning for this campaign so I believe that prayer plays a direct role in this campaign and I always ask please pray for the campaign; please pray for our staff; please pray specifically that the eyes of the voters be opened."

[TPM SLIDESHOW - Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

The TPM Poll Average has Democrat Chris Coons leading O'Donnell by 55.5%-37.2%, despite the one narrower poll that O'Donnell appeared to be referring to. Hmm -- if O'Donnell were to win this election, that really would be a miracle!

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DE-SEN

Christine O'Donnell's New Attack On Coons: Meet 'Rubber Stamp Man' (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 25, 2010, 12:45PM

Christine O'Donnell campaign ad, "Chris Coons is...Rubber Stamp Man"

Republican Christine O'Donnell's latest attack video in the Delaware Senate race uses a cute kid in a Halloween costume to rip Democrat Chris Coons. It also compares President Obama to God.

And that's before you get to the clip from Maddow.

A sequel to the Republican O'Donnell's movie preview-themed web ad from two weeks ago, the new ad casts the Democrat Coons as a "superhero" whose power is rubberstamping the Democratic agenda. To make her point, O'Donnell uses grainy tracker footage and a clip from a Coons' interview with Rachel Maddow in which Coons says he supports the president and would vote in favor of keeping Harry Reid as the Democratic leader in the Senate if the two of them make it to Washington.

Like O'Donnell's last web ad, the message in the new spot is aimed right at the Republican base vote in Delaware. The last video called Coons "The Tax Man," the sort of tax-raising zombie all Republicans fear. The new video not only says Coons will be the White House's man in the Senate, but also makes a less-than-subtle reference to Republican claims of arrogance on the part of the Obama administration that has been a key part of tea party messaging.

"Growing up, Chris Coons wanted to be a superhero with with powers granted by a supreme being," the movie preview voice over says.

"Now, he gets that chance," the narrator continues, as an image of Obama and Vice President Biden stumping for Coons.

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DE-SEN

Chris Coons Ad Hits O'Donnell On Witchcraft, Evolution, Mice With Human Brains (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 22, 2010, 5:00PM

From a Chris Coons campaign ad, "Twilight"

Chris Coons now has his first bona fide attack ad against Christine O'Donnell -- as if every late night comedy talk show weren't already doing the job for him. In the ad, Coons's campaign responds to O'Donnell's attack ads by going after some of her various wacky statements.

"Christine O'Donnell says a lot of strange things," the announcer says, with a Twilight Zone outer space backdrop leading to video clips of some of O'Donnell's greatest hits: "I'm not a witch," "Evolution is a myth" -- and of course, "Scientific companies are cross-breeding humans and animals and coming up with mice with fully-functioning human brains."

[TPM SLIDESHOW - Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

"Huh?" the announcer says. "Now she's attacking Chris Coons. The truth is, Coons cut $130 million, taxes in New Castle County are among the lowest in the region. Unlike Washington, Chris Coons balanced six budgets."

The TPM Poll Average gives Coons a lead of 55.5%-37.2%.

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DE-SEN

O'Donnell Stumped On Dem Senator She Could Work With: Hillary -- Or Lieberman? (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 21, 2010, 11:17AM

Delaware GOP Senate Candidate Christine O'Donnell

Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell had some fun answers in a debate yesterday when asked to name a Democratic Senator she could work with: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- who she herself noted is not a Senator anymore -- or Joe Lieberman.

During a debate on the PBS station in Philadelphia (which includes Delaware within the local media market), the candidates for Senate in Delaware were asked to name a member of the other party they could potentially work with in the Senate. O'Donnell was asked first. She paused, and then said "Well, she's not a Senator anymore, but I would definitely have to say Hillary Clinton. I use her name a lot on the campaign trail, because she is someone that I admire. She is a woman who's had to hold her own in a man's world, and I think she's doing an amazing job right now."

[TPM SLIDESHOW - Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

She also added that she would be a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee -- which is in no way a guarantee if she were elected, though it is common for candidates to mention the committees they hope to serve on -- and work with Clinton there.

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DE-SEN

Christine O'Donnell: I Won That First Amendment Debate! (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2010, 9:28AM

Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell (R)

The media and most viewers of the Oct. 19 Delaware Senate debate thought Republican Christine O'Donnell's question about the First Amendment directed at Democrat Chris Coons was a pretty epic gaffe for the hardcore tea party favorite and Constitution proponent.

O'Donnell did not see it that way, however.

"It's really funny the way that the media reports things," O'Donnell told ABC News this morning. "After that debate my team and I we were literally high fiving each other thinking that we had exposed he doesn't know the First Amendment, and then when we read the reports that said the opposite we were all like 'what?'"

As a refresher, here's how we reported the moment at the Oct. 19 debate:

"You're telling me that's in the First Amendment?" O'Donnell asked, when Coons brought up the fact that the very First Amendment to the Constitution "bars Congress from making laws respecting the establishment of religion."

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Rush Limbaugh

Limbaugh Defends O'Donnell: Separation Of Church And State Not In The Constitution

Brian Beutler | October 19, 2010, 6:21PM

Rush Limbaugh

A prominent Constitutional scholar has entered the fray to defend Christine O'Donnell from the people criticizing her for suggesting that the Constitution does not provide for the separation of church and state. And by "prominent Constitutional scholar," we mean Rush Limbaugh.

In one of his signature rants this afternoon, Limbaugh excoriated O'Donnell's detractors by claiming the left has used the shorthand "separation of church and state" as a rationale for excluding religious people from government -- as evidenced by the profusion of atheists serving in national office.

"Are you telling me separation of church and state's in the First Amendment?" Limbaugh asked. "It's not. Christine O'Donnell was absolutely correct -- the First Amendment says absolutely nothing about the separation of church and state."

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DE-SEN

Scary O'Donnell Ad: 'Shame On You, Chris' For Raising Sewer Tax (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2010, 1:34PM

From a Christine O'Donnell campaign ad, "Michael"

Amazingly enough, Christine O'Donnell has an ad in the Delaware Senate race that isn't about addressing her apparent history of witchcraft and poor personal finances. Instead, it attacks her Dem opponent, New Castle County Executive Chris Coons, on the purely local issue of taxes.

The ad features an extreme close-up on Wilmington City Councilman Michael Brown, who is blasting Coons's record on taxes. "He was left with a $200 million surplus when he took office. But yet still he raised the sewer tax 64%," says Brown. "When he was campaigning he promised not to raise taxes. Shame on you, Chris. Shame on you, Chris."

The Associated Press fact-checks the claim made in some O'Donnell ads, such as the on-screen text here, that Coons brought "New Castle County to the brink of bankruptcy." It's bunk: "Coons has balanced the budget each year, as required by state law, through a combination of spending cuts and tax increases. The county maintains a top-notch credit rating, showing that analysts and investors have high confidence in its fiscal stability."

The TPM Poll Average gives Coons a lead of 55.2%-37.2%. Is the shame of the sewer tax enough to close that kind of gap?

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DE-SEN

Christine O'Donnell: Where In The Constitution Is The Separation Of Church And State? (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 19, 2010, 10:58AM

Delaware Senate candidates Chris Coons (D) and Christine O'Donnell (R)

In a debate with Democrat Chris Coons this morning, Delaware's Republican nominee for Senate, Christine O'Donnell, suggested the way she reads the Constitution, there's no ban on the government establishing or influencing organized religion.

"Where in the Constitution is the separation of church and state?" O'Donnell said, according to the AP.

The question came as part of a discussion over science education in public schools. O'Donnell "criticized Democratic nominee Chris Coons' position that teaching creationism in public school would violate the First Amendment by promoting religious doctrine." She also seemed unclear about what's in the Constitution itself.

"You're telling me that's in the First Amendment?" she asked, when Coons brought up the fact that the very First Amendment to the Constitution "bars Congress from making laws respecting the establishment of religion."

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DE-SEN

Watch As Christine O'Donnell Frustrates Stars Of The 90s (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | October 16, 2010, 1:02AM

Al Franken and Christine O'Donnell on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher in 1997

Long before she was frustrating her Democratic opponent Chris Coons with her allegations that he's a closet Marxist, Delaware GOP Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell was busy aggravating celebrities on Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect.

Maher dropped another O'Donnell clip on his HBO program Real Time on Friday. This one wasn't focused so much on the things O'Donnell said as it was the way guests reacted.

Amongst the celebrities featured in the clip -- many of whom O'Donnell left exasperated -- are Al Franken, Bob Saget, Ben Affleck, Danny Bonaduce, Dana Carvey, magician Penn Jillet, Jimmy Kimmel, actor Patrick Duffy (the dad on Step by Step) and Sisqó, of "Thong Song" fame. "Ah, the 90s!" jokes Maher at the end of the montage.

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DE-SEN

Report: O'Donnell Tells GOPers 'I've Got Sean Hannity In My Back Pocket'

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2010, 1:31PM

Christine O'Donnell

Republican Delaware Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell has figured out how to deal with the national Republican Party not giving her enough financial support: Go out and attack them for it on right-wing media outlets, in order to raise money from grassroots Tea Partiers instead.

As Howard Fineman reports:

Specifically, according to two top GOP insiders, she said at a strategy meeting with DC types last week: "I've got Sean Hannity in my back pocket, and I can go on his show and raise money by attacking you guys."

And that was precisely what she was doing on the radio today. On Hannity's popular afternoon drive-time show, the Tea Party-inspired Senate contender acidly criticized the party, specifically the National Republican Senatorial Committee, for not funneling any serious cash (beyond a pro forma $43,000) into her race against Democrat Chris Coons.

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DE-SEN

Rasmussen Poll: Coons Leads O'Donnell By 11 Points In DE-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | October 15, 2010, 12:31PM

Chris Coons (D), and Christine O'Donnell (R), candidates for senate in Delaware.

The new Rasmussen poll of the Delaware Senate race gives Democrat Chris Coons a consistent and significant-sized lead over Republican Christine O'Donnell, albeit by a slightly smaller margin than some other firms have shown.

The numbers: Coons 51%, O'Donnell 40%. The survey of likely voters has a ±4.5% margin of error. In the previous Rasmussen poll from three weeks ago, Coons had 49% and O'Donnell had 40%, plus 5% for Congressman Mike Castle, who was considering a write-in bid after he lost the Republican primary to O'Donnell. (Castle eventually decided against it.)

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

The TPM Poll Average gives Coons a lead of 55.5%-37.2%.

2010 elections

Kaine Says Dems Can't Take Delaware For Granted

Christina Bellantoni | October 14, 2010, 12:44PM

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine said this morning he won't help Democratic candidates with no chance at winning or those who will knock it out of the park with ease, but even though Delaware's Democratic Senate nominee Chris Coons is ahead by nearly 20 points in the TPM Poll Average, President Obama and Vice President Biden will hold a major rally in the state tomorrow.

Kaine told reporters at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor that his philosophy is, "I'm not going to give a courtesy gift to a person who is going to win and I'm not going to give s sympathy gift to a person who is going to lose."

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DE-SEN

Chris Coons: Republican O'Donnell Criticized Me For Rich Family (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2010, 12:06PM

Christine O'Donnell (R), and Chris Coons (D), candidates for Senate in Delaware.

In a post-debate interview this morning on CNN, Delaware Democratic Senate nominee Chris Coons criticized his Republican opponent Christine O'Donnell for launching personal attacks against him in last night's meeting. And, he noted, a Republican candidate was criticizing him for coming from a wealthy and successful family.

"As we got farther and farther into the debate, I think she got sharper, more personal, and strayed a little bit farther from the truth in terms of characterizing my record here," said Coons.

CNN host Kiran Chetry then asked Coons about O'Donnell's comment -- made in defense of her personal financial problems -- that she did not have a trust fund like Coons did.

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DE-SEN

SurveyUSA Poll: Coons Leads O'Donnell By 21 Points In DE-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2010, 9:45AM

Christine O'Donnell (R), and Chris Coons (D), candidates for Senate in Delaware.

Yet another poll of the Delaware Senate race, this time from SurveyUSA, shows Democratic nominee Chris Coons winning in a blowout against Republican nominee Christine O'Donnell.

The numbers: Coons 54%, O'Donnell 33%. The survey of likely voters has a ±2.1% margin of error. There is no prior SurveyUSA poll of this race for direct comparison.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

This poll was conducted this past Monday and Tuesday, and thus contains no data reflecting last night's debate. That said, O'Donnell is already getting raked over the coals for her performance in that debate, such as her inability to name a recent Supreme Court decision with which she disagreed. So it remains to be seen whether that debate will help her at all in digging out of this deep hole.

The TPM Poll Average gives Coons a lead of 56.2%-36.6%.

DE-SEN

Christine O'Donnell's Confused Debate Night: Candidate Asks For Hint On Recent SCOTUS Cases

Christina Bellantoni | October 13, 2010, 9:46PM

DE-SEN candidate Christine O'Donnell (R) in a debate with Chris Coons (D)

Delaware Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell may have mastered her debate talking points and had a "Saturday Night Live" laughline, but had a tough time this evening with some basic questions about issues she'd face if she is elected to the Senate.

The most striking example of that in her CNN-televised debate against Democratic nominee Chris Coons came at the end of the 90-minute forum when O'Donnell could not name a recent Supreme Court case.

The debate moderator Nancy Karibjanian of Delaware First Media asked O'Donnell to talk about a recent high court opinion she disagreed with. The Republican, who defeated Rep. Mike Castle in a primary last month, paused.

"Oh gosh. Give me a specific one," O'Donnell said after a deer-in-the-headlights moment which you can watch below. Karibjanian said, no, because that was the point: she needed O'Donnell to name one.

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DE-SEN

Christine O'Donnell Says U.S. Hasn't Finished Job Of Fighting 'Soviets' In Afghanistan (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | October 13, 2010, 8:58PM

Christine O'Donnell (R), and Chris Coons (D), candidates for Senate in Delaware.

Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell tonight totally confused the United States' history with Afghanistan when talking about the Obama administration's plan to withdraw troops from the country.

She complained that Obama and Democratic nominee Chis Coons are advocating something dangerous by proposing a drawdown of troops begin next summer.

"A random withdrawal, that he has said he supports, will simply embolden the terrorists to come after us even more, saying, 'I've chased away the superpower,'" O'Donnell said during a nationally televised debate hosted by CNN at the University of Delaware.

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DE-SEN

CNN/Time Poll: Coons Leads O'Donnell By 19 Points In DE-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2010, 4:45PM

Christine O'Donnell (R), and Chris Coons (D), candidates for Senate in Delaware.

The new CNN/Time poll of the Delaware Senate race gives yet another landslide lead to Democratic nominee Chris Coons, against Republican activist Christine O'Donnell.

The numbers: Coons 57%, O'Donnell 38%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3.5% margin of error. In the previous CNN/Time poll from three weeks ago, Coons led by 55%-39%.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

The pollster's analysis confirms the general impression that O'Donnell has successfully mobilized the Tea Party right -- and alienated everyone else. "Coons is winning among independents despite the fact that a quarter of them are Tea Party supporters," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Take the independents who back the Tea Party out of the equation and Coons wins 71 percent among non-partisan independents, as well as 68 percent among moderates."

The TPM Poll Average gives Coons a lead of 56.4%-37.3%.

DE-SEN

Monmouth Poll: Coons Leads O'Donnell By 19 Points In DE-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2010, 5:26PM

Chris Coons (D), and Christine O'Donnell (R), candidates for senate in Delaware.

Yet another poll of the Delaware Senate race, this one from Monmouth University, shows Democratic nominee Chris Coons with a landslide lead over Republican nominee Christine O'Donnell.

The numbers: Coons 57%, O'Donnell 38%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3.5% margin of error. There is no prior Monmouth poll of this race for direct comparison.

The poll shows O'Donnell with a favorable rating of only 31%, with 58% unfavorable. By contrast, Coons is in much healthier territory at 50%-33%. The poll also found only 35% saying that O'Donnell is qualified to be a Senator, with 57% saying she is not qualified, compared to Coons at 64%-25%.

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DE-SEN

O'Donnell Campaign Unleashes 'The Taxman' In Delaware (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 12, 2010, 3:31PM

Christine O'Donnell ad, "Chris Coons the Taxman"

Christine O'Donnell -- or rather her ad team -- has succeeded in creating a viral video for the Delaware Senate campaign that is not intended to make the oft-mocked Republican nominee look like a liar, crazy or a just a crazy liar. The ad was created by the ProsperGroup, a GOP web firm that's done work for celebrity Republican Senate candidates like Sharron Angle and Scott Brown. The video succeeds in turning our collective attention to O'Donnell's Democratic opponent, Chris Coons -- for about a minute.

Using a format (and a voice) lifted straight from movie previews, and lines parodied from the ridiculously popular "Bed Intruder" YouTube sensation, Davis turns the mild-mannered Davis into the evilest, tax-hikingest, government-spendingest politician this side of, well, the Demonsheep ad released by O'Donnell's TV ad man -- Fred Davis -- earlier this year in California.

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DE-SEN

Fox News Poll: Coons Leads O'Donnell By 16 Points In DE-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | October 12, 2010, 10:11AM

Chris Coons (D), and Christine O'Donnell (R), candidates for senate in Delaware.

The new Fox News poll of the Delaware Senate race finds Democratic nominee Chris Coons continuing to lead Republican Christine O'Donnell by a landslide margin -- and also reaffirms that the GOP would have likely picked up this seat if they had nominated the original establishment pick, moderate Rep. Mike Castle.

The numbers: Coons 54%, O'Donnell 38%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3% margin of error. In the previous Fox poll from three weeks ago, Coons led by 54%-39%.

By contrast, if Castle were the nominee, he would lead Coons by 50%-33%, up slightly from a 48%-33% margin three weeks ago. Castle had previously considered mounting a write-in bid for the general election, but decided against it a week and a half ago, just as the deadline to file as a write-in candidate ended. (A Rasmussen poll suggested that Castle would not attract many votes, and would siphon more support away from Coons than O'Donnell.)

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DE-SEN

Christine O'Donnell Fibs, Says 'Passion Of The Christ' Was Nonprofit (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | October 8, 2010, 10:42AM

Christine O'Donnell (R) Senate candidate in Delaware

Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell (R) yesterday told Delaware voters a big fib that she worked for a "nonprofit" when doing marketing for Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ," real-world experience that she said claims her best suited to represent the state in office.

"What I do is nonprofit work, I take on clients," O'Donnell said when asked about critiques she is unqualified in video you can watch below. "I have a very extensive client history from working with Icon Productions at the 'Passion of the Christ.'"

Yes, the same Icon Productions that shattered box office records with "Passion of the Christ" in 2004. It's not listed in the nonprofit disclosure databases, and Icon's own description doesn't include any mention of being a nonprofit.

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DE-SEN

O'Donnell Ad: 'I'm You,' I Didn't Go To Yale Or Inherit Millions Like Chris Coons (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 7, 2010, 4:44PM

From a Christine O'Donnell campaign ad, "What I'm Made Of"

Republican Christine O'Donnell has a new ad in the Delaware Senate race, continuing her "I'm You" slogan from her previous spot. Unlike the previous one, which sought to confront her past discussions of having dabbled in witchcraft, this one seems to possibly be dealing with the various stories about her financial problems -- and dare we say it, engaging in some populist class warfare against her more privileged Democratic opponent, Chris Coons.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

"I didn't go to Yale. I didn't inherit millions, like my opponent. I'm you. I know how tough it is to make and keep a dollar. When some tried to push me from this race, they saw what I was made of -- and so will the Senate, if they try to increase our taxes one more dime. I'm Christine O'Donnell, and I approved this message. I'm you."

There's a funny thing about O'Donnell's class-resentment line about how she didn't go to Coons's alma mater of Yale. It might just further remind people about her own false claims about having gone to Oxford and Claremont Graduate University.

The TPM Poll Average gives Democratic nominee Chris Coons a lead of 57.7%-37.5%.

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DE-SEN

Fairleigh Dickinson Poll: Coons Leads O'Donnell By 17 Points In DE-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | October 6, 2010, 12:23PM

Christine O'Donnell (R), and Chris Coons (D), candidates for Senate in Delaware.

The new Fairleigh Dickinson poll of the Delaware Senate race provides yet another data point that Democratic nominee Chris Coons is favored to win over surprise Republican nominee Republican Christine O'Donnell -- and that the GOP would have picked up this seat for sure if their primary had nominated Rep. Mike Castle.

The numbers: Coons 53%, O'Donnell 36%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3.5% margin of error. There is no prior Fairleigh Dickinson poll for direct comparison.

At the same time, the poll also shows that Mike Castle -- the moderate GOP Congressman who was the original choice of the party establishment for the nomination, before the Tea Party-backed O'Donnell won the primary -- would lead Coons by 50%-36% if he were the Republican nominee.

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DE-SEN

University Of Delaware Poll: Coons Leads O'Donnell By 24 In Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | October 6, 2010, 10:25AM

Chris Coons (D), and Christine O'Donnell (R), candidates for senate in Delaware.

A new University of Delaware poll gives Democratic nominee Chris Coons a huge lead over the colorful Republican Christine O'Donnell in this state's Senate race.

The numbers, including leaners: Coons 61%, O'Donnell 37%. Even without leaners, Coons leads by 49%-30%. There is no previous University of Delaware poll of this race.

The TPM Poll Average gives Coons a lead of 60.2%-38.7%.

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DE-SEN

O'Donnell In 2006: I Know 'Classified Information' About Secret Chinese Plot To Take Over U.S.!

Eric Kleefeld | October 4, 2010, 2:26PM

Christine O'Donnell

In another delicious tidbit from Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell's political history, the Associated Press has dug up a startling claim that O'Donnell made back in 2006, during a previous campaign for Senate -- that she had received classified information about a secret Chinese plot to take over the United States.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

As the AP reports, the comments came during a 2006 Senate primary debate with two other Republicans:

She said China had a "carefully thought out and strategic plan to take over America" and accused one opponent of appeasement for suggesting that the two countries were economically dependent and should find a way to be allies.

"That doesn't work," she said. "There's much I want to say. I wish I wasn't privy to some of the classified information that I am privy to."

...

When Ting challenged O'Donnell's claim about having secret information, O'Donnell didn't answer specifically but suggested she had received it through nonprofit groups she worked with that frequently sent missionaries there.

The TPM Poll Average of this year's Senate general election gives Democratic nominee Chris Coons a lead of 55.0%-39.6%

DE-SEN

AP: O'Donnell's Anti-Sex Evangelism Group Hasn't Filed Tax Returns

Eric Kleefeld | September 30, 2010, 12:19PM

Christine O'Donnell

Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell could potentially be in some further trouble -- and it doesn't have to do with her seemingly exaggerated educational background. This time, it turns out that her non-profit group could lose its tax-exempt status, due to failing to file the required tax forms.

The Associated Press reports:

IRS documents reviewed by The Associated Press show the group -- Savior's Alliance for Lifting the Truth -- is on a list of organizations threatened with revocation of its nonprofit status next month because it has not filed returns for three consecutive years.

O'Donnell founded the group in 1996 and is listed as its current president on the financial disclosure documents she filed with the U.S. Senate this summer. The alliance is a pro-abstinence outreach group aimed at young Christians.

SALT is the very same group in which O'Donnell mounted her famous anti-masturbation campaign in the 1990s, as part of the group's overall pro-chastity mission.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

The TPM Poll Average gives Democratic nominee Chris Coons a lead of 55.0%-39.6% over O'Donnell.

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Mike Castle Not Running As Write-In Candidate For DE-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | September 30, 2010, 9:34AM

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), who lost the Republican primary for Senate to conservative activist Christine O'Donnell in a big upset two weeks ago, has announced that he will not run a write-in campaign for the general election.

Today was the deadline to register a write-in candidacy with the state, had Castle decided to do so. "The party has spoken," Castle told the Wilmington News Journal. "I know a lot of people who didn't vote but that's the way it works. It's just part of the process. I respect the process." However Castle still said he has not changed his decision to not endorse O'Donnell, citing the "personal attacks and misrepresentations" by her campaign, but is simply endorsing the "Republican ticket." (Note: By "personal attacks," Castle might be referring to how O'Donnell's campaign spread rumors and innuendo that he was gay.)

A recent Rasmussen poll said that Castle would only get five percent of the vote as a write-in candidate -- and furthermore, he would take most of those votes away from Democratic nominee Chris Coons, thus doing O'Donnell a favor in the race.

The TPM Poll Average gives Coons a lead of 55.0%-39.6% over O'Donnell. The polls have also consistently shown that Castle would have led Coons if he had won the Republican primary.

DE-SEN

O'Donnell: God Won't Let Me Quit The Senate Race (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 29, 2010, 11:08AM

Christine O'Donnell

Surprise Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell cites an important source for her decision to have stayed in a Senate race that few people think she can win: God hasn't let her quit.

In a news segment with the Christian Broadcasting Network -- taped before her recently announced decision to stop doing national media interviews -- O'Donnell talked about how her Republican primary battle against Rep. Mike Castle seemed like such a long shot, and how she found the strength to keep going.

"God continued to strengthen and empower us, when you know his strength is perfected in our weakness, and that's exciting," said O'Donnell. "Because you see that if it weren't for faith, when all logic said it's time to quit, we pursued, we marched on, because we knew God was not releasing us to quit. And now, with such an important lame duck session, you realize why we were to endure all that stuff."

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O'Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

The TPM Poll Average gives Democratic nominee Chris Coons a lead of 55.0%-39.6%.

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Rasmussen Poll: Castle Scores Only 5 Points As Write-In For DE-SEN

Eric Kleefeld | September 27, 2010, 11:10AM

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)

Does Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), who lost the GOP primary for Senate in a stunning upset two weeks ago to Christine O'Donnell, have a chance if he gets back into the general election as a write-in candidate? According to a new Rasmussen poll, the answer is no. Furthermore, it seems that he would more likely siphon votes away from Democrat Chris Coons, rather than hinder O'Donnell.

The numbers: Coons 49%, O'Donnell 40%, and Castle 5%. The survey of likely voters has a ±4.5% margin of error. In the previous Rasmussen poll from two weeks ago, just after O'Donnell won the primary, Coons led O'Donnell by 53%-42%.

From the pollster's analysis: "Rasmussen Reports did ask Castle supporters who they would vote for in a two-person race and virtually all said either Coons or not sure."

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