I was astounded to find that fully EIGHTEEN of the twenty 111th Congress's Democratic House seats targeted in crosshairs on Sarah Palin's "controversial target map" went to Republicans.
The only exceptions were Gabby Giffords (D-AZ8) and Nick Rahall (D-WV3).
On Palin's pre-election map (see it at
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x148077 ), three districs had red rather than white crosshairs on them, indicating that incumbent Democrats had announced their retirements. Republicans took all three of these open seats.
Following the same graphical practice, 15 of the 17 districts where Democratic incumbents ran for re-election now would have red crosshairs too, because Republicans defeated those incumbents.
Are you surprised by the overwhelming success of Sarah Palin's "controversial target map"?
Do you think she'd ever use this tactical device again?
Did the Tucson mass-murderer know that only Giffords and Rahall survived the midterm elections? Was he trying to turn another of Palin's crosshairs red?
Does Nick J. Rahall II (WV-3) need to wear a bullet-proof vest for the next few weeks?
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?
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Election Results for districts in Palin's crosshairs, from
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml :
"Member Web Site Listing (by State) - United States House of Representatives, 112th Congress, 1st Session
01 Gosar, Paul R., Arizona, 1st
02 Schweikert, David, Arizona, 5th
03 Giffords, Gabrielle, Arizona, 8th ***SURVIVOR #1***
04 Tipton, Scott, Colorado, 3rd
05 Gardner, Cory, Colorado, 4th
06 Southerland, Steve, Florida, 2nd
07 Adams, Sandy, Florida, 24th
08 Young, Todd, Indiana, 9th
09 Berg, Rick, North Dakota, At-Large
10 Johnson, Bill, Ohio, 6th
11 Renacci, Jim, Ohio, 16th
12 Kelly, Mike, Pennsylvania, 3rd
13 Marino, Tom, Pennsylvania, 10th
14 Mulvaney, Mick, South Carolina, 5th
15 Hurt, Robert, Virginia, 5th
16 McKinley, David, West Virginia, 1st
17 Rahall, Nick, West Virginia, 3rd ***SURVIVOR #2***
Republicans also won all 3 open seats with red crosshairs on Palin's map:
Griffin, Tim, Arkansas, 2nd
Bucshon, Larry, Indiana, 8th
Black, Diane, Tennessee, 6th