|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
(PA) Democrats: no reason to celebrate
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Container
|
| Contributor | Scott³ |
| Last Edited | Scott³ May 24, 2010 12:46pm |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | Analysis |
| Author | Jack Kelly |
| Media | Newspaper - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |
| News Date | Sunday, May 23, 2010 06:45:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | "Pennsylvania primary results don't bode well for them in the fall
The spin is in. Here's how the webzine Politico expressed the conventional wisdom about the outcome of the special election for what had been Jack Murtha's seat in Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district:
"In the only House race that really mattered to both parties ... Republicans failed spectacularly, losing on a level playing field where, in this favorable environment, they should have run roughshod over the opposition," wrote Jonathan Martin and Charles Mahtesian.
If this is widely believed, it may turn out to be a good thing for Republicans that Democrat Mark Critz, a former Murtha aide, defeated Republican Tim Burns in PA 12.
First, there'll be no more smugness among Republicans about coasting to a takeover of the House in November.
Second, Democrats in swing districts may now underestimate how much trouble they could be in.
Mr. Martin and Mr. Mahtesian have a curious notion of what constitutes a "level playing field." Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 in Pennsylvania's 12th district and Democratic turnout was goosed by competitive primaries for U.S. senator and governor, while the GOP statewide primaries were yawners.
The surge for Rep. Joe Sestak against Sen. Arlen Specter in the Democratic Senate primary is mainly what did in Mr. Burns, an analyst for the National Republican Congressional Committee told Jim Geraghty of National Review.
"Sestak's surge ... drove a sudden interest in voting among the Democratic base. This analyst thinks these Sestak-driven voters amounted to 8,000-10,000 voters, roughly the size of Critz's margin of victory," Mr. Geraghty said." |
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
