All in all a good night for the Democrats

The only competitive race between dems and GOP in PA-12 had the GOP going all out to win it. They attacked Obama, Pelosi & Reid and in the end the Dems did better than expected with an 8-point margin.

The pundits are moaning about Specter's loss and Lincoln's narrow race, but the only thing this tells me is that the Democratic base which is supposed to be so "demoralized" is actually alive and well. It was rank and file Dems who threw Specter out in favor of a real democrat and who voted in heavy numbers against Lincoln bringing her race to a near draw and forcing a run-off.

Not only that but turnout numbers in PA were good.

As a Liberal, that's a good place to be imho.

AWESOME!

He IS going to win the run off! Bank on it!

since that's state's more conservative side.

The only thing that surprised me about Arkansas was how well the third candidate did. Once it became clear that a runoff was inevitable, Halter's mission became staying as close behind Lincoln as possible. Mission accomplished.

The Dem base isn't demoralized, it's pissed--pissed enough to come up with their own 2012 candidate if the Dem politicians keep cowering before the Rethuglicans.

:patriot:
rocktivity

Out-of-state donations accepted!

Conway

Halter

:patriot:
rocktivity

<snip>

"The news from last night’s elections was almost universally good for Democrats (and, therefore, the president), yet, the cable news programs are tripping over themselves to tell you otherwise. There should be no question, even if the polls weren’t decisive about it, that Joe Sestak and Bill Halter will be stronger general election candidates than Arlen Specter and Blanche Lincoln. Halter still needs to win a run-off election against Lincoln in three weeks, but he’s in good shape considering that 55% of Arkansas Democrats just voted against Lincoln. The Republicans still have a good chance to pick up the Arkansas seat, but it is no longer guaranteed. In Pennsylvania, the GOP’s odds just got very long, as Pat Toomey is way too far to the right to win against a fresh face.

The Democrats also won their seventh straight competitive Special Election in Pennsylvania’s 12 District, where Mark Critz retained John Murtha’s seat. As you’ve probably already learned from watching teevee, Murtha’s district was the only one in the entire country to vote for Kerry in 2004 and then McCain in 2008. Some polls showed that Obama only has a 35% approval rate in the district (where he is most famous for his low bowling score). The election wasn’t even close, which has to be discouraging to Republicans who think they are going to ride some kind of wave into the midterms.

The Democrats also lucked out in the Sixth District, where their well-funded but somnambulant candidate, Doug Pike, went down to defeat against the much more compelling and energized Manan Trivedi. The Sixth District is probably the most Democratic district still held by a Republican. And the incumbent, Jim Gerlach, has a bit of a Specter problem after having announced his retirement to run for governor only to drop out and run for reelection. He, too, only cares about saving one job, and it ain’t yours.

The Democrats also caught a break in Kentucky when the lunatic Rand Paul won the Republican primary and immediately began talking nonsense in his acceptance speech. The Democrats were smart enough to elect Jack Conway, who was not only the more progressive option, but the stronger general election candidate. Our prospects for picking up crazy Jim Bunning’s seat just went up substantially."

more

today. They've got major league problems heading toward November. Serious fractures within their Party, complete failure to take PA-12, and an energized Democratic base. Add to that the fact our economy is steadily improving, their exposure to siding with Wall Street and Big Banking against reform, and the discrediting of "drill baby drill". They're going to look as crazy, unnattractive, and negative to the American electorate as they really are.

I can't wait to see the TV adds this fall featuring Boehner's crazed "Hell No You Can't" along with more guaranteed nuttery from the Palin/Bachmann duo.