US Elections: And Now Delaware Becomes Very, Very Important

EA Worldview's US Politics correspondent, Lee Haddigan, writes:

Hours after the polls closed across Delaware in the Republican primary for the US Senate, the campaign of the victorious Christine O’Donnell --- favourite of the Tea Party and "insurgent" Republicans --- announced they had reached their fundraising target of $750,000 and were aiming for $1 million. This was not a target for the campaign to November's general election, but only for the day after the primary.

Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, after a much criticized delay, announced they would be helping O’Donnell in her general election bid, despite the animosity in the primary with "establishment" candidate Mike Castle. And Wednesday evening the Tea Party Express sent out an email requesting donations to O’Donnell’s campaign.

So here is my last word on Delaware until late October when the new registration figures come out: if I am offered odds of 2-1 or higher on O’Donnell, I'm taking them.

Click to read more ...

UPDATE US Politics: Delaware (and Others) Vote for the Tea Party

p>Yesterday, EA's US Politics correspondent Lee Haddigan took a close look at the bitterly-disputed Republican primary for the US Senate in the small state of Delaware. Reviewing the battle between the "establishment" candidate Mark Castle and the Tea Party's choice, Christine O'Donnell, Haddigan concluded: "When the state returns to obscurity after the primary, at least until next month, there will be injuries from this surprisingly nasty struggle that will not be forgiven or forgotten, inside and outside the state."

Maybe, but this morning, O'Donnell is celebrating victory. And the Tea Party has another claim for success in New York, where their favourite Carl Paladino defeated Rick Lazio in the Republican primary for Governor.

Click to read more ...

"Oh, Boy": How 500 Delaware Voters Are Splitting America's Conservatives

Delaware has been thrust reluctantly, after the initial thrill, onto the front page of political news. But when the state returns to obscurity after the Republican primary, at least until next month, there will be injuries from this surprisingly nasty struggle that will not be forgiven or forgotten, inside and outside the state. As Tea Party-backed candidate Christine O’Donnell exclaimed to a reporter on Sunday night, after being informed of a Weekly Standard article attacking her: "Oh, boy."

Click to read more ...