2010 elections

Top Five Political Catch Phrases Of 2010

Brian Beutler | December 29, 2010, 12:45PM

Sarah Palin

A big part of politics is coming up with catchy slogans and phrases so that voters draw conclusions that help your party. They run the gamut from Barack Obama's "Yes we can!" to Sarah Palin's "death panels."

The flipside of that is that you have to avoid saddling yourself with unflattering slogans and catch phrases. A bad gaffe will stick to a politician like flypaper -- sometimes for years. These buzzwords and catchphrases bubble up into the political discourse all the time. Most of them dissipate harmlessly, but a few attach themselves to their subjects like stink on, well, chickencrap.

Here's our list of the top five political catch phrases of 2010 -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.

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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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Sharron Angle

Harry Reid Camp Tells Sharron Angle To 'Man Up'

Brian Beutler | October 21, 2010, 5:35PM

NV-SEN candidates Sharron Angle (R) and Harry Reid (D)

Examples of female politicians questioning their male rivals' manhood are about a dime a dozen at this point. Christine O'Donnell told her primary opponent Mike Castle to get his "man-pants" on. Sharron Angle told Harry Reid to "man up" and gut Social Security. Democrat Robin Carnahan told her Missouri Senate rival Roy Blunt to repeal his own health care..."and man up." Sarah Palin said Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has "the cojones" that to tackle immigration reform that Barack Obama could use -- just one of many times she emasculated some of her enemies: "impotent, limp, and gutless reporters" and Republicans who won't "man up" and support the Tea Party.

Now one of the men on the receiving end of this phallic fusillade is turning the tables.

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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

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

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

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

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

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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DE-SEN

Christine O'Donnell Flashback: 'Evolution Is A Myth' (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | September 24, 2010, 10:53PM

Christine O'Donnell

Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell challenged comedian Bill Maher on evolution more than a decade ago, wondering aloud about why monkeys haven't evolved into humans.

Maher showed the brief segment from his 1990s era show "Politically Incorrect" tonight on his HBO show "Real Time." In the Oct. 15, 1998 clip which you can watch below, O'Donnell argued with Maher and his guests.

"Evolution is a myth," O'Donnell said as the others piped up incredulously. She repeated herself, then added:

Well then why aren't monkeys still evolving into humans?

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DE-SEN

Mike Castle Considering A Write-In Bid For Delaware Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | September 23, 2010, 9:27AM

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)

As if the Delaware Senate race wasn't crazy enough already, the Wilmington News Journal reports that Rep. Mike Castle, who lost the Republican primary last week in a stunning upset against conservative activist Christine O'Donnell, is not ruling out the possibility of mounting a write-in bid.

Castle, was previously a seeming Senator-in-waiting, with a strong lead in the polls against Democratic nominee Chris Coons -- a lead he still has, while O'Donnell seriously trails Coons. So is a Lisa Murkowski-style write-in bid in his future?

Castle told the paper that he "probably" would not run, but isn't ruling it out "simply because it's there, simply because I've had a number of people who've asked that I do that." If Castle were to run, he has until next Thursday, September 30, to declare his candidacy at the state Election Office. "I will consider it right up until the final moment but I'm not headed in that direction right now."

DE-SEN

CNN/Time Poll: Coons Up By 16 On O'Donnell In Delaware

Marc Kilstein | September 22, 2010, 5:27PM

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

A new CNN/Time poll of the Delaware Senate race shows Democratic nominee Chris Coons ahead of Republican Christine O'Donnell by double-digits.

The latest survey has Coons leading the race 55%-39%. Since this is the first CNN/Time poll on the contest, there are no numbers available for direct comparison. A Fox News poll out yesterday painted a similar picture of the race, giving Coons a 15-point advantage over the embattled O'Donnell.

Recent numbers are confirming the widely held belief that Republicans lost an almost-guaranteed Senate seat pickup when O'Donnell claimed the Republican nomination. When the Fox poll asked respondents to suppose Congressman Mike Castle (the Republican establishment favorite) had won the GOP nomination, he was found on top 48%-33% in a matchup with Coons. In today's CNN/Time poll, a similar result was produced -- Castle would be ahead of Coons 55%-37%.

The TPM Poll Average shows Coons leading O'Donnell 55.0%-39.6%. The margin of error of the latest survey is ±3.5 percentage points.

For more on the race, check out TPMDC's full coverage here.

2010 elections

Jim DeMint: Picking Horses Is About More Than Primaries

Christina Bellantoni | September 17, 2010, 11:50AM

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Sen. Jim DeMint says he'd rather be in the minority with a bunch of rock-ribbed conservatives than be part of a ruling group of RINOs. He might just get his chance.

Some Senate Republicans have been privately trashing DeMint, whose track record with his Senate Conservatives Fund endorsing long-shot conservatives in this year's tough GOP primaries has been better than leadership's. The argument among some -- in very quiet whispers -- is that DeMint is not their kind of Republican and his candidates might have blown the GOP's chances at retaking the Senate this fall.

It only bubbled to the surface in news reports after this week's stunning Delaware race in which Christine O'Donnell shellacked Rep. Mike Castle, prompting analysts to shift the state back into the Democratic column from the likely Republican pickup it would have been with the far more moderate Castle as the nominee.

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DE-SEN

O'Donnell In 2007: Scientists Have Created Mice With Human Brains!

Eric Kleefeld | September 16, 2010, 5:19PM

Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell has previously sounded the alarm against cloning and stem-cell research -- and what she's described as the current terror of human-mouse hybrids.

We previously noted that O'Donnell had attacked her primary opponent, Congressman Mike Castle, based on his support for stem-cell research. But it turns out that her interest in the subject goes back much further. As Little Green Footballs has spotted, O'Donnell appeared in 2007 on The O'Reilly Factor, to speak out against such research in response to the cloning of some monkeys. Then came her warning on human-mouse hybrids.

"They are -- they are doing that here in the United States. American scientific companies are cross-breeding humans and animals and coming up with mice with fully functioning human brains. So they're already into this experiment."

It's possible that O'Donnell was misremembering this 2005 report on scientists who successfully grew human brain cells within mice -- which is not the same as an actual functioning human brain, but a demonstration that human brain cells can be made from stem cells.

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

However, there is also some other stunning video evidence proving O'Donnell's dire warnings, and the potential terrible consequences for not only America, but indeed the whole world. Check it out after the jump.

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DE-SEN

Castle Not Endorsing O'Donnell -- Because Of 'Personal Smears'

Eric Kleefeld | September 16, 2010, 4:49PM

Christine O'Donnell (R-DE) and Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-DE)

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), who lost Tuesday's Delaware Senate primary to conservative activist Christine O'Donnell in a stunning upset, has now openly declared he will not be endorsing her in the general election, the Washington Post reports.

"There are a lot of personal feelings in all this," Castle said in an interview off the House floor, citing "some of the personal smears" in the bitterly fought campaign. "At this point I have no intention of endorsing."

He ruled out supporting the Democratic nominee, New Castle County Executive Christopher Coons, suggesting that he will remain neutral in the run for Senate.

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DE-SEN

Delaware GOP Chair Releases Statement On Primary -- Doesn't Say O'Donnell's Name

Eric Kleefeld | September 16, 2010, 4:37PM

Chairman of the Delaware Republican Party Tom Ross

Delaware Republican Party chairman Tom Ross, who vigorously opposed Christine O'Donnell during her Senate primary against Congressman Mike Castle, has now issued a statement on the primary. He calls for party unity and declares the GOP's support for its candidates -- but oddly enough, he never actually says O'Donnell's name.

Ross, of course, is the man who famously ripped O'Donnell in the run-up to the primary. "She's not a viable candidate for any office in the state of Delaware," Ross had said. "She could not be elected dog catcher." And as a result, he faced calls for his resignation from various sections of the Tea Party movement. 

In a new statement, Ross speaks out -- and declares that he will not resign.

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DE-At Large

PPP Poll: Dems Set To Pick Up Mike Castle's Delaware House Seat, Too

Eric Kleefeld | September 16, 2010, 1:26PM

Candidates for Congress Glen Urquhart (R) and John Carney (D)

New polling numbers of Delaware from Public Policy Polling (D), conducted over this past weekend before Tuesday's primary, show that Democrats are favored to pick up the House seat of Republican Mike Castle, the establishment moderate who lost the Senate primary to Tea Partier Christine O'Donnell. And as a bonus, Democratic former Lt. Gov. John Carney could end up rolling over another Tea Partier who beat the GOP establishment, real estate developer Glen Urquhart.

The numbers: Carney 48%, Urquhart 37%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3.2% margin of error. In the previous PPP numbers from early August, Carney led Urquhart by 48%-30%.

However, this is not a case of the GOP primary voters potentially throwing away a race as they did on the Senate side. Urquhart very narrowly defeated the state party's official choice, philanthropist Michelle Rollins, by a margin of just 552 votes out of about 56,000. But in this poll, Rollins too is trailing Carney by a margin of 47%-37%. In the previous poll, Carney led Rollins by 48%-32%.

"Delaware has really worked out well for Democrats," writes PPP president Dean Debnam. "Christine O'Donnell's primary win has ensured the party will keep its Senate seat and with Mike Castle leaving the House that's the number one opportunity for a pick up on that end."

Karl Rove

What A Difference Two Days Make: Karl Rove's Mega-Walk Back On O'Donnell

Jillian Rayfield | September 16, 2010, 12:08PM

When Karl Rove called Christine O'Donnell "nutty" on Tuesday night and said she didn't have a chance to win the Senate race in Delaware, maybe he thought he was just talking straight to Fox News viewers. But since then, conservatives have been tearing Rove to shreds over his comments. Everyone from Rush Limbaugh to Sarah Palin to Michelle Malkin have effectively changed Rove "from keeper of the conservative cause to the next Jane Hamsher," as TPM's Evan McMorris-Santoro put it.

Which might be why Rove backpedaled so hard on Fox News today. See if you can spot the ever-so-slight change in tone:

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Karl Rove

Karl Rove Walks Back His Diss And Gives In To O'Donnell Fever (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 16, 2010, 10:36AM

Karl Rove

Well, that didn't take long. After being pounded for a full day by some of the conservative movement's biggest names, a bruised and battered Karl Rove took to the Fox News airwaves this morning to get on board the Christine O'Donnell train.

Rove, you'll recall, refused to buy the tea party hype about Delaware's new Republican Senate nominee, telling Sean Hannity on the night O'Donnell won that the "nutty" things O'Donnell says meant that the GOP had no shot at winning a Senate majority with her representing the party in Delaware (a race the GOP was expected to win with establishment choice Mike Castle as the nominee.)

Since he made that comment, commentators from Michelle Malkin to Sarah Palin to Rush Limbaugh have called Rove everything from incompetent to traitorous. The end result? Rove has come to embody the "establishment" in discussions about O'Donnell. And as anyone knows, this year, the "establishment" label on a Republican resume is about as popular as a meat dress at a PETA meeting.

So perhaps it's no surprise that Rove buckled under the pressure of his right-wing critics, rushing onto Fox this morning to change the narrative. How can you call me establishment? he asked. I supported Sharron Angle for goodness' sake! And as to that whole "the GOP Senate majority is doomed" thing, Rove is now claiming that not only does he think O'Donnell can win, he actually orchestrated sending NRSC money to her campaign.

As Rove might have said in a moment of honesty, it's all kind of nutty.

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Karl Rove

Rush Limbaugh Apoplectic Over Rove's O'Donnell Diss (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 15, 2010, 4:52PM

Karl Rove and Rush Limbaugh

Add Rush Limbaugh to the list of prominent conservatives tearing into Karl Rove's hide today. As Rove continued his tour slamming freshly minted Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell over the considerable number of skeletons in her closet, Rush was almost literally beside himself with frustration at the idea that anyone -- much less The Architect -- would dare violate the 11th Commandment so brazenly.

O'Donnell's nomination has created deep divisions between the Republican Party and right-wing activists. Last night, Rove bashed O'Donnell -- and her chances of being elected -- and insisted that she's said a lot of "nutty things." He was attacked by some right-wingers for those comments. O'Donnell whacked him back in a televised interview this morning. And then Rove responded to O'Donnell and his right-wing critics, daring them to 'prove me wrong'. Then Palin slammed Rove. Now it's Limbaugh's turn.

"If 51 seats was really the objective -- if getting the majority is really that important, then let's go balls to the wall for Christine O'Donnell!" Limbaugh screamed on his radio show today after playing a clip of Rove's already infamous anti-O'Donnell interview on Hannity last night.

"Why not fight for it?" Limbaugh asked. "Why not fight for it? Castle's OK as the 51st vote but this woman isn't?"

Rush seemed in danger of having an aneurysm at the idea that Rove would do something as heretical as point out that O'Donnell has more than a few very serious character flaws and -- as the polls show -- is a serious underdog against her Democratic opponent in November, in a race that Republicans had once thought was theirs for the taking.

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DE-SEN

PPP Poll: Dem Coons Leads O'Donnell Big -- And Would Have Trailed Castle

Eric Kleefeld | September 15, 2010, 11:20AM

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

Newly-released poll numbers from Public Policy Polling (D), conducted over the weekend before yesterday's Delaware primary, provides yet further evidence that Christine O'Donnell's nomination for Senate has probably blown the opportunity for Republicans to pick up this seat.

The poll shows the Democratic nominee, New Castle County Executive Chris Coons, leading O'Donnell by a whopping 50%-34%. Had the GOP nomination gone to the establishment favorite, Congressman Mike Castle, he would have led Coons by 45%-35%. The survey of likely voters has a ±3.2% margin of error. In the previous PPP survey from a month ago, Coons led O'Donnell by 44%-37%, and Castle led Coons by 48%-35%.

"A small group of Delaware Republicans most likely cost their party this seat and any chance at gaining control of the Senate last night," writes PPP president Dean Debnam. "What has looked like an easy Republican win the entire cycle now looks like an easy one for the Democrats."

DE-SEN

Conservatives Trash Karl Rove After He Insists O'Donnell Says 'Nutty Things'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 15, 2010, 10:57AM

Karl Rove, former Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush

With the battle won by the ultra-right in Delaware, the national conservative pundits who backed Christine O'Donnell in last night's GOP Senate primary have turned on a man who is presumably one of their own: Karl "The Architect" Rove. After Rove bemoaned O'Donnell's nomination as the end of the GOP's chances to take back the Senate in a heated interview with Sean Hannity last night, pundits and tea partiers have slammed him as a traitor and even called for Fox News to suspend him as an on-air analyst.

In one five-minute interview, it seems, Rove went from keeper of the conservative cause to the next Jane Hamsher in the eyes of those who are ostensibly his allies. It's a stunning turn against the man who has recast himself as a right-wing media darling since Bush left office, and suggests that the next war on the establishment from angry conservatives could be aimed in part at the man who for close to a decade was the progressive movement's enemy number one.

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DE-SEN

Christine O'Donnell Compares Herself To Ronald Reagan (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | September 15, 2010, 9:33AM

Christine O'Donnell

Christine O'Donnell isn't sweating the national Republicans who won't be helping her Delaware Senate bid this fall, because, after all, Ronald Reagan was once a pariah too.

"They also said that Ronald Reagan wasn't electable," O'Donnell said this morning on ABC's "Good Morning America. She called the GOP's whisper campaign against her "Republican cannibalism."

The perennial candidate who has never held political office said she doesn't need the NRSC's help, and believes she can win by raising just $1 million. The Tea Party Express made an appeal to supporters today for cash to help O'Donnell after the GOP's abandonment.

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DE-SEN

National GOP Looks West: NRSC Washing Hands Of Delaware After Christine O'Donnell Win

Christina Bellantoni | September 15, 2010, 12:14AM

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

The national Republicans who whispered for weeks that Christine O'Donnell was unelectable are done with Delaware.

A National Republican Senatorial Committee source told TPM tonight that the party will be sending money and support elsewhere since O'Donnell, not moderate Rep. Mike Castle (R), is the nominee. O'Donnell, a perennial candidate who has never held political office, trails Democratic nominee Chris Coons.

NRSC officials say that if O'Donnell proves she is viable as a candidate in what is considered to be a blue state, "we would hope Sen. Jim DeMint and the Tea Party Express would invest in her race." If that happens, the NRSC would consider spending for O'Donnell.

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

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Christine O'Donnell

Republican Establishment Muted After O'Donnell Win While Democrats Crow

Megan Carpentier | September 14, 2010, 10:00PM

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Christine O'Donnell

Usually when a candidate like Christine O'Donnell wins a primary -- and begins the tough slog to a general election -- you expect emails from her party like "MEDIA: Tea Party Express Congratulates Christine O'Donnell !!!". That, however, is not the subject line from the Republican Party's email: It's from the Tea Party Express email.

The TPE message from Chairman Amy Kremer went on to say, "Christine O'Donnell overcame the entire political establishment to achieve victory tonight because she stood for the constitutional conservative principles that voters are craving during this election cycle," and predict her certain victory in November.

A message from Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser, a conservative pro-life women's organization, added that "Christine O'Donnell's come-from-behind victory is evidence that voters across America are hungry for conservative pro-life candidates."

By way of contrast, the National Republican Senatorial Committee's email is below in its entirety:

In reporting on the Delaware Senate Republican primary results, please consider the following response from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC):

"We congratulate Christine O'Donnell for her nomination this evening after a hard-fought primary campaign in Delaware." - Rob Jesmer, NRSC Executive Director

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DE-SEN

O'Donnell Wins Republican Senate Primary In Delaware

Jillian Rayfield | September 14, 2010, 9:09PM

Christine O'Donnell

The Associated Press reports that Christine O'Donnell has pulled off an almost-surprising upset over Rep. Mike Castle in the Delaware Republican primary, after receiving the conservative-coveted endorsement of Sarah Palin last week.

With 85% of precincts reporting, O'Donnell leads 54%-46%.

Her win came despite whispers among national Republicans that the three-time candidate (and two-time loser) wasn't ready for prime time given her precarious financial situation and history of somewhat extreme positions on sexuality.

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

Read more »

2010 elections

Tonight's Primaries: The Last Big Election Night Before November

Eric Kleefeld | September 14, 2010, 5:58PM

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Christine O'Donnell

Tonight marks the last major night of the 2010 primary season. And what a wild and wacky season it's been -- and could still prove to be tonight.

This is the last multi-state primary night this year. After tonight, the only one primary left is Hawaii's this Saturday.

So let's take a look at some of tonight's races. There are Tea Party insurgents against establishment GOP moderates, Dems fighting it out to keep their jobs, and a whole lot of fun throughout.

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DE-SEN

Tea Party Express: No 'Funniness' Intended By Calling For GOPer's 'Termination'

Eric Lach | September 14, 2010, 1:22PM

Chairman of the Delaware Republican Party Tom Ross

Tea Party Express national coordinator Joe Wierzbicki has expanded on his group's call for the "termination" of Delaware Republican party Chairman Tom Ross, in light of the fact that Ross temporarily left his home in response to a death threat.

The call for Ross' "immediate resignation or termination" was made over the state party chair's support of GOP establishment pick Rep. Mike Castle over tea party favorite Christine O'Donnell in the Senate Republican primary.

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Mike Castle

Castle: If O'Donnell Is Nominated, 'Republicans Lose The Election Automatically'

Jillian Rayfield | September 13, 2010, 6:38PM

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), who is facing a heated Republican senatorial primary against tea party favorite Christine O'Donnell tomorrow, told NBC today: "Bottom line is, if she's nominated, Republicans lose the election automatically."

"It's that simple," he told Kelly O'Donnell.

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Tea Party Express

Tea Party Express Calls For 'Termination' Of GOPer ... Who Got Death Threat

Eric Lach | September 13, 2010, 6:24PM

Chairman of the Delaware Republican Party Tom Ross

The Tea Party Express is calling for the "immediate resignation or termination" of Delaware Republican Party Chairman Tom Ross, over Ross' support of GOP establishment pick Rep. Mike Castle in the Senate Republican primary. But it just so happens that the group's call for "termination" comes just a few days after Ross received a death threat, one serious enough for him to temporarily leave his home.

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Christine O'Donnell

Kyl On O'Donnell: 'The Question Is How Much Support You Can Give To A Candidate'

Brian Beutler | September 13, 2010, 4:10PM

Christine O'Donnell

Top Republicans are suggesting that they may give up on the Delaware Senate race if Tea Party backed candidate Christine O'Donnell pulls off an upset and defeats establishment backed Rep. Mike Castle for the nomination.

"I might feel okay in supporting her," Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl told reporters this afternoon outside the Senate chamber. "The question is how much support you can give to a candidate."

Kyl's clear suggestion is that while Republicans might publicly back O'Donnell over Democrat Chris Coons in the general election, the race might be such an uphill climb that they'll withhold valuable party resources from her campaign, which might be better spent, in their view, in more competitive states.

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DE-SEN

Mike Castle: Murkowski Warned Me About Tea Partiers

Christina Bellantoni | September 13, 2010, 2:41PM

Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)

Rep. Mike Castle, on the ropes in Delaware before tomorrow's GOP Senate primary, said in an interview with ABC which aired today that he was warned about the tea party's strength and tactics by fellow Republicans.

Castle (R-DE) told ABC's Jonathan Karl that he spoke with Sen. Lisa Murkowski after a tea party-endorsed candidate unseated her in Alaska's Republican primary.

"She called me several days after she went down and said, 'These people will come hard, be careful,'" Castle said in the interview, which aired on ABC's "TopLine."

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2010 elections

FreedomWorks Says Thanks But No Thanks To Christine O'Donnell

Evan McMorris-Santoro | September 13, 2010, 11:05AM

Dick Armey and Christine O'Donnell

Leaders of the influential FreedomWorks group -- one the largest and most powerful tea party forces in the country -- publicly distanced themselves from the latest tea party political star, Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell, at a breakfast with reporters this morning.

"We stay out of that race because we're not convinced O'Donnell can win," FreedomWorks president and CEO Matt Kibbe said at the Christian Science Monitor-sponsored event.

FreedomWorks chair Dick Armey shared the ambivalence toward O'Donnell, who's sparked a kind of GOP breakdown with her fast-rising candidacy against party stalwart Mike Castle, who most view as a shoo-in for Vice President Biden's old Senate seat should he win the nomination. Presented with polling data showing likely Democratic nominee Chris Coons beating O'Donnell in a general election, Armey was asked "if it's better for Republicans to lose with a tea party-backed candidate than to win with a mainstream Republican candidate."

"I'm going to give a quick answer," Armey said. "No."

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DE-SEN

Christine O'Donnell Targeting 'Hillary Democrats' In Delaware Republican Primary (VIDEO)

Christina Bellantoni | September 13, 2010, 10:38AM

Christine O'Donnell says she has an election strategy -- and it includes appealing to those die-hard PUMAs who wanted to see Hillary Clinton elected president in 2008.

"I do want to point out that we have broad based support, we've got a lot of Hillary Democrats working behind us -- with us -- because they're frustrated with what this administration is doing," O'Donnell (R-DE) said this morning on Fox News.

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

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DE-SEN

PPP Poll: O'Donnell Leads Castle By Three Points In DE-SEN Republican Primary

Eric Kleefeld | September 12, 2010, 10:14PM

Christine O'Donnell (R-DE) and Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-DE)

The new survey of the Delaware Republican Senate primary by Public Policy Polling (D) gives insurgent conservative activist Christine O'Donnell a three-point edge over the Republican establishment's favorite, moderate Congressman Mike Castle.

The numbers: O'Donnell 47%, Castle 44%. The survey of likely primary voters has a ±3.8% margin of error. There is no prior PPP survey of this primary for direct comparison.

The primary will be held this Tuesday. It should be noted that the TPM Poll Average for the general election has Castle leading the presumptive Democratic nominee, New Castle County Executive Chris Coons, by a margin of 47.0%-37.1%. On the other hand, Coons leads O'Donnell in the average by 44.0%-37.5%.

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DE-SEN

O'Donnell Blasts Castle's 'Un-Manly' Tactics (AUDIO)

Eric Kleefeld | September 10, 2010, 12:56PM

Christine O'Donnell (R-DE) and Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-DE)

Christine O'Donnell is continuing to attack Mike Castle in the Delaware Republican Senate primary -- and continuing to question Castle's manhood.

O'Donnell appeared last on Mark Levin's radio show, and fired back at an FEC complaint that was filed by the Delaware Republican Party, which supports Castle, alleging that she has illegally coordinated her campaign activities with the Tea Party Express.

"You know, these are the kind of cheap, underhanded, un-manly tactics that we've come to expect from Obama's favorite Republican, Mike Castle," said O'Donnell. "You know, I released a statement today, saying Mike this is not a bake-off, get your man-pants on. (Laughs)"

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

Some O'Donnell backers have previously dealt in innuendo and rumors that Castle is gay, though O'Donnell herself has denied having any involvement with that.

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DE-SEN

Sarah Palin Picks A New Mama Grizzly And Endorses Christine O'Donnell In Delaware

Christina Bellantoni | September 9, 2010, 4:05PM

Christine O'Donnell

Sarah Palin has endorsed Republican candidate Christine O'Donnell in her primary against one-time frontrunner Rep. Mike Castle, announcing her choice by calling in to Sean Hannity's radio show.

O'Donnell, who came from behind to come within striking distance of Castle before Tuesday's primary, tweeted her thanks to the former Alaska governor:

@sarahpalinusa Thank you for your clear confidence in my candidacy. Strong conservative women will take our country back! #teaparty #DESEN

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DE-SEN

The 42nd Republican? Next Delaware Senator To Be Seated For Lame Duck Session

Christina Bellantoni | September 9, 2010, 8:52AM

Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-DE), Sen. Mike Castle (R-DE), Christine O'Donnell (R), Chris Coons (D)

Remember when Scott Brown signed autographs and added the number "41" -- signaling to voters he was poised and ready to become that critical vote against health care reform? Delaware voters are getting the same signal, with tea party darling Christine O'Donnell (R) promising to single-handedly block any Democratic agenda during a lame-duck session of Congress if she's elected.

Delaware's Senate race is unlike any of the other critical midterm face-offs Nov. 2 -- the winner will be seated immediately and not in January like most of the rest of the Senate victors.

As she battles longtime-but-less-so-these-days frontrunner Rep. Mike Castle for Tuesday's Republican primary, O'Donnell talks about this being a "special" election every chance she gets, calling herself a key "filibuster" vote. But no one seems to realize just how right she is.

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DE-SEN

Tea Party Express 'Moneybomb' For O'Donnell Includes Just One Delaware Donor

Christina Bellantoni | September 8, 2010, 8:37AM

From a Tea Party Express ad for Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell (R-DE)

The Tea Party Express has attacked Rep. Mike Castle for raising campaign cash from out-of-state in his bid to be Delaware's next senator -- but what do you know, they have done the exact same thing for their candidate.

Castle faces Christine O'Donnell on Tuesday's Republican primary ballot. O'Donnell backers say polls are suggesting she's within striking distance of defeating Castle, a longtime member of Congress who has never lost an election. His decades-long career is one reason Open Secrets has him ranked as No. 7 on its list of the Top 10 candidates based on how many of their donations come from outside of their home state.

Castle has raised $852,963, or 51.4% of his total, from donors not living in Delaware.

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