The GOP circular firing squad is finally set to begin shooting today, as Delaware will hold its primary vote to decide between moderate Republican Mike Castle and Tea Party Express-backed Christine O’Donnell.
Democrats are licking their chops. They thought for sure that this seat was going to tip to the GOP by default, but now it looks like it might tip to their side by default.
And make no mistake: If the Delaware GOP nominates Christine O’Donnell, the Democrats will win the seat. She will not be the next senator from Delaware. There are three big reasons:
a. She’s got a list of personal issues a mile long. Conservatives who thought John McCormack was hard on her (puh-lease!) should buckle up because the DSCC is going to take you on a very bumpy ride!
b. The Republican establishment is going to bail on her, and by and large they bankroll campaigns. The National Republican Senatorial Committee had, by July 31, received contributions from individuals totaling some $58 million. That money came from just 19,941 individuals. That works out to be about $2,900 per donor, which makes them “the establishment,” and they are not going to back O’Donnell.
c. Delaware is not a conservative state. Not even close. Let’s count the ways:
-The last time it voted for a Republican senator was 1994.
-The last time the GOP held the state house was 1972.
-The last time the GOP held the state senate was 1972.
-The last time a Republican won the governor’s mansion was 1988. That Republican’s name is Mike Castle.
-Between 1988 and 2000, the Democrats held on average a party registration advantage that ranged between 5 and 9 points. In 2006, the Democratic advantage hit 11 points. In 2008 it hit 12 points. This year, it reached 17 points.
-In 2008, one out of four self-identified Delaware conservatives voted for Barack Obama.
The electability argument is so clear and convincing that the choice in Delaware is really between a moderate Republican, who will move the Senate to the right despite his centrism, and a liberal Democrat, who will not. A vote for O’Donnell today is tantamount to a vote for Chris Coons in November.
The obviousness of this point frankly leaves me thinking that this is more about sending a message to “RINOs” than about getting the most conservative Senate possible. That will endanger the Republican push to repeal Obamacare, and that leaves me very, very frustrated.
Read more Morning Jay at The Weekly Standard.
