Cool, I would be glad to facilitate
Jul 29th, 2010 by David Anderson
David Broder said in today’s column at the Washington Post that some states would kill to have two candidates for Senate like Castle and Coons. After the Disclose Act, I agree, and if any state wishes to adopt them they can call me at 302-555-1111. I would be glad to facilitate their adoption.
I will step up and run but I won’t attend the convention or run a campaign.
Broder is probably still wiping the brown off his nose after writing that column.
I understand that many on this site wouldn’t recognize civility if it hit them upside the head with a 2×4, but in many corners, Delaware has been respected for its above-board campaigns.
The reason Delaware tends to have above-board campaigns is because so few statewide races here are competitive. In the last three decades, only Minner-Lee among governor, House and Senate races was within ten points.
Tom Carper has won nine statewide races, never by less than twelve points. His biggest margin in any race was in 2006, whipping Jan Ting by 41 points
Mike Castle, twelve races, never by less than ten. His biggest margin of victory came in 1994, scoring a 44 point win.
Joe Biden’s closest margin of victory was the one point squeaker he won his first Senate term by 38 years ago. Since then, no one has gotten within eighteen points of him. And he scored his biggest win two years ago, racking up a thirty point wipe out of Christine O’Donnell.
Ruth Ann Minner’s three other statewide races were also decided by large margins. She won her first term as governor by a 20 point margin.
There is a school of thought out there that suggests that because the state is so small that you’re likely to run into your opponent socially at the beach, a Blue Rocks game or a PTA meeting. That has merit. But that has not stopped Rhode Island from having some nasty races. But still, the most civil races are often the most lopsided ones. Daniel Moynihan of New York, who won his share of lopsided races, often became close friends with his Republican “opponents” during campaigns and its not hard when you’re forty points ahead and someone is not a real threat.
Thanks for that, Michael.
that was very interesting.