GOP Blames Sestak For PA 12 Loss

[MH1]

Poor babies. :)

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/05/gop_blames_sest.php

Dem enthusiasm has been lacking in primary races around the country this year, but the battle between Sen. Arlen Specter (D) and Rep. Joe Sestak (D) cost the GOP a House seat, according to a post-game analysis from the pollster who handled the race for the NRCC.

In a post mortem memo, Public Opinion Strategies partner Gene Ulm wrote that GOP turnout in the race to replace the late Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) was actually up, but that Dem excitement over the SEN primary drove voters to the polls, and handed Mark Critz (D) an 8-point win.

"he special election coincided with very competitive Democratic primaries that inflated the number of base Democrats anxious to defeat Arlen Specter," Ulm wrote in the memo to NRCC executive director Guy Harrison.

Though the district was the only seat in the country to vote for Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) in the WH'04 contest and flip to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in '08, the primary brought out core Dem constituencies excited to back Sestak, and therefore more likely to vote for Critz over businessman Tim Burns (R).

Edit to add: if you have a little spare change and would like to see the GOP continue to blame Joe Sestak for things, please help out right here:
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/sestak2010

[blue neen]

1. Honestly, I think it could have been a little the other way, too.

There were a lot of people in this district who were highly motivated to vote for Mark Critz, and Sestak could have benefited from that.

It's all good! :toast:

[MH1]

2. true, but I just like the notion

of the poor GOP grasping for reasons why they lost.

Um, the Democrats put up a better candidate!

:toast:

[blue neen]

3. Thank our lucky stars for that.

The Repugs spent an unbelievable amount of cash on their loss! :)

[noel711]

4. Hey, I don't care if the Murtha seat stayed blue riding on Sestak coattails..

A win is a win..

[happyslug]

5. GOP ignoring the black and white reason.

Even Murtha admitted his district (Which I live in) had a lot of racists in it. That was the reason the district went to McCain and Murtha in 2008, both were white and the district had enough people who would for any white over any Black. Please note, as I have stated elsewhere, if Hillary had been the Democratic Candidate, she would have carried the District, as Kerry did on 2004 for Hillary is white.

Personally I believe a lot of Democrats in the 12th came out to vote for Critz and then voted for Seszek. This is the result of a basic Union Concept, do NOT trust anyone who abandons the union, when it does NOT help the union, but offer personal advantage to that person. The best word for that id treason to the union. Now, such treason is NOT illegal under the laws in this state, so the only really defense is to vote against such people and that is what people did with Spector.

[PADEMJES12]

6. There is some truth here-

I think although Specter is working on EFCA compromise, he would have been far far better off if he didnt piss people off by opposing it right around the time he switched over, so for people w an eye for an eye mentality, it was difficult for them to get over that hump and they couldnt do it. They should have hit sestak on his scab boss habit more in this district.

As happyslug says, the notion that these people came out in droves to vote for a progressive democrat the fightin 12th
is VERY wishful thinking, just look at how bad Hillary squashed Obama in the dem primary and how decisive McCain won. There were more anti-incumbent votes than there were, pro-Joe votes.

As for the 12th and motivation to turn out, I think shrinking Cambria county's turn out was exceedingly high for their hometown candidate. Turnout in westmoreland, armstrong, etc was very poor for both sides. Happyslug is correct, there are alot of racists and alot of people willing to turn a blind eye to less than ethical conduct (its not at the top of the list is a good way to put it)