DE-SEN

Christine O'Donnell Goes Back To The Tea Party; Promises Them A Surprise

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 31, 2010, 7:23PM

Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell (R)

WILMINGTON, DE -- It ain't over 'til it's over, says Christine O'Donnell. The embattled Republican nominee for Senate here in The First State told a crowd of supporters from her tea party base not to count her out just yet -- despite polls showing Democrat Chris Coons cruising to an easy win. O'Donnell says she's counting on first-time voters and a new 30-minute TV closing argument (airing three times on statewide TV in the next 24 hours) to pull off what most observers say would be a miracle win.

At a Delaware stop for the Tea Party Express bus tour -- the PAC-funded group that helped bring you such quotable tea party notables as Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), Nevada GOP Senate nominee Sharron Angle, Alaska GOP Senate nominee Joe Miller and others -- O'Donnell called on her supporters not to give up hope.

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DE-SEN

One Last Dance For Christine O'Donnell And The Tea Party Express In Delaware

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 31, 2010, 10:16AM

Christine O'Donnell

In Wilmington, Delaware this afternoon, the Tea Party Express will take Christine O'Donnell on one more trip around the dance floor before the election music stops. With just hours to go before Election Day, the Republican Senate nominee and and the Tea Party Express are likely set for different paths: O'Donnell to an almost certain loss to Democrat Chris Coons, and the group to what's sure to be some post-election tea party infighting. But today, they will share the same stage one more time.

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

The group's final bus tour of the campaign cycle is rolling to a stop Monday, but not before touching down in Delaware, where Tea Party Express money and resources helped O'Donnell defeat the GOP establishment pick, Mike Castle, in this September's Republican primary.

Since that time, O'Donnell has come to represent the best and the worst of the tea party phenomenon. Her ability to knock off Castle -- an odds-on favorite for the seat, with the endorsement of just about everyone in mainstream Republican politics -- was indicative of the tea party's ability to scare the pants off the establishment. That could have a big effect on how the party moves forward if the GOP wins big on Tuesday. But O'Donnell's apparent failure to engage voters in Delaware beyond her tea party base also tells a tale of the tea party: the one where candidates find themselves trapped underneath the movement's sometimes eccentric policy views.

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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

Christine O'Donnell Uses Campaign Cash To Pay Her Rent

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 22, 2010, 6:08PM

Back in September, CREW -- the watchdog group -- filed a complaint against Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell for, as the group said, using the funds she raised in her primary campaigns "as her personal ATM."

Today, the AP reports, she admitted to one of CREW's main charges against her: that she used campaign cash to pay rent on her Delaware town house. She shed new light on the charge, however, saying through attorneys that the FEC "approved the arrangement." Back in March, she told a Delaware paper that she used "campaign funds to pay half the rent at her current town home," a move she said was "legal because of the home's dual purpose as a campaign headquarters."

But commission rules "say candidates can't use campaign money for their mortgage or rent 'even if part of the residence is being used by the campaign,'" adding more murkiness to her already cloudy financial past.

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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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Christine O'Donnell

Christine O'Donnell's Quixotic Campaign To Serve On The Foreign Relations Committee

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2010, 4:03PM

Christine O'Donnell

Christine O'Donnell has made no secret of her desire to serve, if elected, on the prestigious Senate Foreign Relations Committee. So eager is she for the position that she discusses it as if it were fait accompli.

In a debate last night with her opponent Chris Coons, O'Donnell was unable to name a single Senate Democrat she could work constructively with -- but did describe her future professional relationship with the Secretary of State.

"Hillary Clinton is someone that I look forward to working with," O'Donnell said. "As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee in the U.S. Senate I will have direct conversations with her about where we should be taking our foreign policy and I look forward to that."

Asked earlier this month on Fox News whether she believes Iran will develop nuclear weapons, O'Donnell demurred, "You know, I don't know, I don't have access to the intelligence information that would help make that decision. Perhaps as a U.S. senator sitting on the Foreign Relations Committee, I will. That's one, I would love that."

And, semi-related, in 2006 O'Donnell claimed that she already had access to classified information on the secret Chinese plot to take over the United States.

Even if she wins, though, her ascension is anything but guaranteed. When it comes to a committee slot, O'Donnell will face more obstacles than just winning in November.

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DE-SEN

O'Donnell Scrubs Park51-Hater Geller Endorsement From Website

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2010, 1:10PM

Pamela Geller and Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell (R)

Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell is generally pretty proud of the ultra-conservative company she keeps. O'Donnell made a big deal about her endorsement from Sarah Palin and was the very public star of the Values Voter Summit in September.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Morals, Morals, Morals! Conservatives Gather For Values Voter Summit]

But when it comes to support from the public face of hatred aimed at the planned Islamic cultural center in lower Manhattan, the infamous firebrand Pamela Geller, it seems O'Donnell would rather keep her friends to herself.

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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 Wish I Hadn't Said 'I'm Not A Witch' (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 21, 2010, 10:40AM

If Christine O'Donnell was a witch, she'd want to cast a spell that could go back in time and cancel that infamous first television ad buy of hers.

In an interview with ABC's Jon Karl this morning, O'Donnell said she wished she never aired the "I'm not a witch" ad, which she said was intended to bring an end all the talk about O'Donnell's "I dabbled into witchcraft" past and shift the focus to her 2010 campaign.

In a word, FAIL.

"I haven't publicly stated this, and I don't know if I'll get in trouble for saying it, but our intention was to kill it," she told Karl. "and that's not what happened."

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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%.

Christine O'Donnell

Colbert: By The Transitive Property Of O'Donnell, Masturbating Equals Being Gay (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 15, 2010, 10:44AM

Stephen Colbert had a startling realization last night, after hearing Christine O'Donnell equate being gay in the military to having an affair in the military during this week's Delaware Senate debate. Colbert was alarmed because she also has said that "lust in your heart is committing adultery. "So you cant masturbate without lust."

"Let's follow O'Donnell's ironclad logic," he said. "Being gay in the military equals committing adultery in the military. 'Military' is on both sides so let's reduce that equation. So, being gay equals committing adultery, and masturbating equals committing adultery. So by the transitive property of O'Donnell, masturbating equals being gay."

"How could I not see this?" Colbert wondered. "All this time I've been doing it with a dude!"

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

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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 Claremont Class: A Dentist, A Felon, A Libertarian Who Called Her 'Susie Homemaker'

Christina Bellantoni and Jon Terbush | October 14, 2010, 8:47AM

Delaware GOP Senate Candidate Christine O'Donnell

Christine O'Donnell (R-DE) believes her participation in an eight-day conservative think tank fellowship is the "number one" thing qualifying her for service in the U.S. Senate. O'Donnell says the "deep analysis of the constitution" taught at Claremont Institute's competitive Lincoln Fellowship program would help her make sound decisions in the Senate, but the teachings couldn't keep one of the other fellows from facing jail time.

Among the 10 fellows awarded the fellowship with O'Donnell in 2002 was Scott Bloch -- the "Geeks on Call" guy who headed the Office of Special Counsel under President George W. Bush who pled guilty this April to criminal contempt of Congress for withholding information from a House oversight committee.

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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%.

AK-SEN

While Other GOPers Erase Far-Right Positions Joe Miller Still Denies Global Warming On His Website

Christina Bellantoni and Elizabeth Harrison | October 13, 2010, 8:41AM

Joe Miller Campaign Website

Republican Senate nominee Joe Miller proclaims on his Web site that global warming "may not even exist." It's a position that you'd think that someone at the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee might have scrubbed in the nearly two months since Miller defeated Sen. Lisa Murkowski in a GOP primary, following a tradition of tidying up the campaigns run by troublesome candidates.

While Nevada nominee Sharron Angle and Delaware nominee Christine O'Donnell have hired big name lawyers and press aides to bring themselves more in line with mainstream Republicans, and each has revamped her Web site, Miller's remains completely unchanged.

Miller, a far-right Republican who has never held elected office, hasn't backed down a bit from his ultra-conservative stances. He's continued to do interviews with national press where O'Donnell, Rand Paul and others have largely avoided the media with the exception of Fox News.

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2010 elections

Do GOPers Think Palin Is Qualified To Be President? Maybe.

Eric Kleefeld | October 13, 2010, 8:34AM

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R)

Sarah Palin has certainly had a big influence in this year's Republican primaries, and she could very well leverage this into a top-tier position in the 2012 Republican presidential primaries. But for some reason, a bunch of Republicans have had a hard time saying she actually is qualified to be President. It's almost become a litmus test of sorts for Republican candidates this cycle -- after Palin backed them, will they really go so far as to say Palin could be president?

[TPM SLIDESHOW - Governor Sarah Palin: A Long Goodbye]

Some of these candidates have displayed a learning curve of sorts -- fumbling on the question at first, then sort of straightening up later. Let's take a quick look at a few recent examples.

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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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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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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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Christine O'Donnell's "I'm Not A Witch" Ad Mocked Far And Wide (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | October 11, 2010, 10:20AM

When a Senate candidate makes a political ad featuring words never uttered before in a television commercial, there's the clear upside that it will be shown for free on an endless loop on cable news, maximizing fundraising and exposure. Then there's the downside (which Christine O'Donnell has experienced since telling Delaware voters in her first ad, "I'm not a witch"): sharp mockery.

In the latest parody over the weekend, Saturday Night Live spoofed the O'Donnell ad, with the show's Kristen Wiig speaking just like the Republican Senate candidate directly to the camera about being elected to the "human Senate."

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Conservative On O'Donnell's Claremont Creds: 'It's Helped Me Tremendously' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | October 8, 2010, 4:39PM

Chuck DeVore and Christine O'Donnell

Conservative Republican Chuck DeVore told TPM today that he agrees with Christine O'Donnell that a week-long think tank program qualifies her for the United States Senate. He completed the Claremont Institute's competitive Lincoln Fellowship program two years after O'Donnell was a fellow, and he said in an interview its rigorous discussion of the Constitution is unrivaled in modern politics.

"It's helped me tremendously in my political life. What it gave me was the practical understanding of what makes the United States unique," DeVore, a member of the California State Assembly, told TPM.

DeVore said that being a Lincoln Fellow gave him "a deeper understanding" of whether laws he is voting for on the floor of the assembly are "really appropriate" or constitutional.

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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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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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O'Donnell Reportedly Blames 'Liberal Media' For 'Character Assassination' Against Her (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 7, 2010, 12:45PM

Christine O'Donnell

Christine O'Donnell is turning her sights on a familiar bogeyman of the Republican base, in her efforts to rehabilitate her image in the Delaware Senate election: The "liberal media" that has made her look bad.

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

CNN reported on an O'Donnell appearance at a local Republican event today, where she reportedly pinned her problems on the "liberal meda," and on lies that have been told about her.

"I've put my name on the line. And I've taken a lot of hits, a lot of slander, a lot of character assassination," O'Donnell said.

Funny thing about the claim of character assassination. One of the things that helped O'Donnell win the Republican primary was the fact that some of her backers -- and on at least one occasion, O'Donnell herself -- traded in innuendo and rumors about her establishment-backed opponent, Rep. Mike Castle, suggesting that he was gay.

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Palin On Christine O'Donnell Ad: She Should Explain The 'Real Witchcraft' In DC (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | October 7, 2010, 11:59AM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said on Fox News last night that Christine O'Donnell has the right idea with her "I'm not a witch. I'm you," ad, but Palin thinks O'Donnell should go further.

"That's very positive," Palin told Fox's Sean Hannity after he played O'Donnell's first television ad.

"What I think she could add is to explain what the real witchcraft and voodoo politics and economics is and that's what's going on in DC," Palin said

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Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart On O'Donnell 'Witch' Ad: 'I Know This Game -- I Am Not A Centaur' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | October 7, 2010, 9:48AM

Jon Stewart talked about Delaware senatorial candidate Christine O'Donnell's new ad last night, in which she says: "I am not a witch. I'm you."

"I know this game," Jon said. "I am not a centaur." He added: "You're me? Because I don't recall the last time I had to deny I was a witch."

He continued that O'Donnell is "about 16 points down in the polls, probably because she exhibits the type of judgment that has her denying she is a witch while standing in front of what appears to be steam from a bubbling cauldron."

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Steele, Gillespie Standing By O'Donnell's Claims About Classified Info On China Plot (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 6, 2010, 2:05PM

Christine O'Donnell

Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell has put leading Republicans in a tough (and funny) spot. In response to her 2006 claim that she had seen classified information about a secret Chinese plot to take over the United States, the current Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele and former RNC chair Ed Gillespie are saying that hey, maybe she's right.

Back when she first ran for Senate in 2006, losing the Republican primary, O'Donnell claimed during a debate that China had a "carefully thought out and strategic plan to take over America," and criticized one of her GOP opponents for wanting the United States to pursue cooperation with the country. "There's much I want to say. I wish I wasn't privy to some of the classified information that I am privy to."

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

Appearing last night on MSNBC's The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell, Steele was grilled by Lawrence O'Donnell (no relation) about this matter. "Michael, you know she`s lying about the classified information, right? I mean, reassure the country," said Lawrence O'Donnell.

"Do you know -- do you know that, Lawrence?" Steele replied. When Lawrence O'Donnell stated that he was certain that Christine O'Donnell was lying, Steele answered back: "Produce your evidence and invite me back on the program and talk about it."

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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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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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Maddow: 'I Have All These Questions' For Christine O'Donnell, But Her Camp Booted Us (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | October 6, 2010, 8:41AM

Rachel Maddow and her MSNBC show's producers last night reenacted the Christine O'Donnell campaign's oddball ejecting of the Maddow team from the Republican Senate nominee's Wilmington, Delaware headquarters.

Maddow told viewers that because O'Donnell doesn't have any public events, it's "hard to cover" her campaign against Democrat Chris Coons, who Maddow also spoke with for the show.

"I have all these questions," Maddow said as she and her production team did a play-by-play outside the O'Donnell building showing how they were booted.

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Rachel Maddow Booted From Christine O'Donnell's Delaware HQ

Christina Bellantoni | October 5, 2010, 4:26PM

Rachel Maddow

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and her show's producers were ejected from Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell's headquarters today with an "angry guy" insisting they were not welcome back.

Maddow tweeted earlier about the kerfuffle, sure to be a part of her show tonight:

Ejected from O'Donnell HQ. Staffer insulted producers Bill & Laura then angry man came outside and told us to leave and not come back.

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

This afternoon Maddow told TPM in a statement that she spoke with O'Donnell's staffers "multiple times about us being here today and wanting to speak with someone -- anyone, even a volunteer -- from the campaign."

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From Affleck To Al Franken, How Christine O'Donnell Capitalized On Her Star Power

Christina Bellantoni | October 5, 2010, 1:41PM

Christine O'Donnell with Ben Affleck (inset)

When she ran for Senate in 2006, Christine O'Donnell made sure the first line of her bio page indicated she was on the verge of celebrity:

Ben Affleck called her sassy.

Al Franken described her as "the girl you hate to love."

In her 2008 campaign bio, she went with a similar theme:

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Christine O'Donnell Ad: 'I'm Not A Witch ... I'm You.' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | October 4, 2010, 7:37PM

Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell has a new ad up where she directly confronts the endless reel of video tape from her past.

"I am not a witch," O'Donnell says in the 30-second, staring straight at the camera. "I'm you."

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DE-SEN

It Has Come To This: O'Donnell Family Straightens Out Father's Bozo The Clown Career

Eric Kleefeld | October 4, 2010, 6:29PM

Bozo the Clown, with Christine O'Donnell inset.

Christine O'Donnell's campaign is facing yet another set of questions about her background, and this time it's on a really weird line of discussion -- whether her father was Philadelphia's local Bozo the Clown. Seriously.

As Mark Leibovich at the New York Times reports, the O'Donnell family's past claims that her father Daniel O'Donnell had worked as Bozo sparked an uprising of online commenters who insisted that no, Daniel O'Donnell was not listed on Wikipedia as having been one of the many regionally licensed Bozo the Clown TV hosts.

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

But now Leibovich has sorted things out -- Daniel O'Donnell was an occasional understudy Bozo, not a full-time holder of the Bozo mantle. From their phone conversation:

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

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

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate 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%

2010 elections

GOP Establishment Superlawyer Repping Tea Partiers Sharron Angle, Christine O'Donnell

Christina Bellantoni | October 4, 2010, 12:42PM

Republican lawyer Cleta Mitchell represents GOP candidates and causes.

She led the charge against ACORN and blasted the NRA for backing a Democratic campaign finance bill. She's helped presidential contenders and entrenched Republicans in Washington. Now GOP super-lawyer Cleta Mitchell is repping the two of the tea party's biggest rising stars -- Sharron Angle and Christine O'Donnell.

It might surprise tea partiers to know their favorite candidates have retained the same power-broker lawyer who did work for the same establishment National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee that opposed their candidacies in the primary.

Mitchell told TPM in an interview this morning how she got hooked up with Angle and O'Donnell. She's friends with Angle's campaign manager, Terry Campbell, since they served together in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives. Mitchell was a member from 1976 through 1984. She's now a partner at Foley and Lardner in Washington.

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Christine O'Donnell: After Witchcraft I Tried to Be A Hare Krishna -- But Liked Meatballs Too Much (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | October 1, 2010, 10:36PM

In 1999 Christine O'Donnell told Bill Maher that she'd briefly tried Buddhism, and that she'd tried to be a Hare Krishna but couldn't take the vegetarianism.

"I was dabbling into every other kind of religion before I became a Christian," O'Donnell said on "Politically Incorrect," a July 19, 1999 clip revealed tonight on Maher's HBO show "Real Time."

Then the kicker:

I was dabbling in witchcraft, I've dabbled in Buddhism. I would have become a Hare Krishna but I didn't want to become a vegetarian. And that is honestly the reason why -- because I'm Italian, I love meatballs!

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Christine O'Donnell's 'Oxford' Tutor Speaks Out: 'Intelligent,' 'A Joy To Have'

Christina Bellantoni | October 1, 2010, 4:59PM

Christine O'Donnell

When she attended a Phoenix Institute program in 2001, Christine O'Donnell was "a joy to have," her former tutor says. Bruce W. Griffin is speaking out on his former student, and says that O'Donnell would "add intellectual and philosophical depth" to the United States Senate should she win in November.

O'Donnell, the Republican nominee for Senate in Delaware, has represented herself as attending Oxford University on at least one and potentially many more occasions.

Griffin, an instructor and not a professor, wrote a detailed blog item saying that O'Donnell's thesis on cloning stood out in his mind as "one of the two best papers written for me that summer."

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DE-SEN

Cornyn Punts On Chance To Defend O'Donnell

Christina Bellantoni | October 1, 2010, 9:02AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Sen. John Cornyn told reporters that Delaware's Senate race still does not appear to be competitive for the GOP thanks to Christine O'Donnell.

TPM spoke briefly with Cornyn following an event at the National Press Club Thursday, and asked about O'Donnell's recent snafu with her education history and how serious of a problem he deems that to be. Rather than defend her, Cornyn spoke generally.

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