By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Surprising “tea party” wins in yesterday’s primary battles proves that Americans are fed up with establishment politics on both sides of the aisle.
“The takeaway from these results is that Americans are mad and they will be heard as they cast their votes,” writes Democratic pollster Doug Schoen for Fox News.
The biggest upset was in Delaware where tea party favorite Christine O’Donnell ousted long-time Congressman Michael Castle in the Republican primary for Senate. Only weeks ago, Castle seemed sure to win both the primary and the general election against a relatively unknown Democratic opponent, Chris Coons. But O”Donnell, with the backing of conservative heavy weight Sarah Palin, came out of nowhere and won handily by a margin of 53 to 47.
The Republican establishment almost immediately took to the airwaves bemoaning the win, saying O’Donnell has too much baggage to win a general election. On top of having no appreciable experience, O’Donnell’s missteps include questions about her use of campaign funds and dubious claims about her college education.
No sooner had the votes been counted than the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) issued a terse statement of congratulations to O’Donnell even while informing the press that they have no plans to come to the aid of O’Donnell in the general election but would leave it up to Sarah Palin and the Tea Party.
In response, Tea Party Express spokesman Levi Russell issued a written statement suggesting the NRSC “take a night off, get some sleep, and reconsider their rash statements.”
He went on to say that the reason the Tea Party movement has grown into such a powerful force “is because of the failures of establishment organizations such as yours to honor the principles of the Republican Party platform. You tried to force through the most liberal Republican in Congress on the voters of Delaware and they rejected you.”
While the prevailing opinion is that O’Donnell can’t win, and a sure seat for the Republicans has now fallen in Democrat hands, the candidate herself was upbeat and optimistic.
“A lot of people have already said that we can’t win the general election,” O’Donnell said in her victory speech last night, then joined the crowd in a “yes we can” chant. “It is those same so-called experts who said we had no chance of winning the primary. It will be hard work, but we can win.”
In total, seven states and Washington, D.C., held primary contests last night. Tea party backed Carl Paladino defeated GOP establishment favorite Rep. Rick Lazio in New York’s gubernatorial race, adding yet another victory to the tea party.
Recent elections saw tea-party backed Sen. Scott Brown win the late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat in January, which set the stage for major tea party candidate wins in Utah, Nevada, Kentucky, Colorado and Alaska where incumbent Lisa Murkowski lost her re-election bid to Palin-backed challenger Joe Miller.
In spite of the dire predictions from both parties this morning about the ramifications of the tea party wins, Schoen sees things differently.
“Delaware is no fluke, neither was Nevada earlier in the year, nor was Carl Paladino’s victory in the Republican primary for governor in New York last night. Palladino’s victory speech mirrors the feelings of not only New Yorkers, but people across the nation as he said ‘Tonight the ruling class knows. There is a people’s revolution. The people have had enough!’
“Indeed, the American people have had enough of a government that increases spending while doing little to nothing to promote job growth, help small businesses, and strengthen the economy. The primaries are showing that it isn’t just an ant-Democratic wave that is swelling, but an anti-incumbent one as well.”
He believes that while establishment Republicans are paying the price in primary season, the Democrats will suffer in November.
“Let’s be clear, the Tea Party movement is strong and all of these candidates who have beaten out party favorites are poised to continue the trend against Democrats, especially in the houses of Congress.”
Schoen predicts the GOP will win back the House as well as eight or nine seats in the Senate, enough to change the balance of power in Washington.
“Last night folks in Congress woke up to the fact the people vote. November will bring more of the same.”
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