Flash has got a great post up at Centrisity destroying the RPM talking point about about “Growing Republican momentum” with the Draz win.
“The GOP Candidate won with 53% of the vote. Since 1998, the GOP candidate has won, on average, 73.2% of the vote …
Only Republican logic would take a 13 - 20% DROP in Republican candidate support and imply it signals GROWING momentum.”
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One problem. Comparing Steve Drazkowski (only 2nd time running) with Steve Sviggum (Speaker of the House and 30 year incumbent).
Nice try.
The DFL spent bigtime money on this. They now regret it.
Hang your hat on whatever little thread you want but the fact of the matter is you guys took your best pot-shots by politicizing the bridge collapse, attacking Draz and his family, over-selling a DFL upset, and sending in your allied orgs’ troops and moolah to win this seat. Yet, despite throwing in everything but the kitchen sink, the DFL failed.
Dear Nice Try:
As Flash failed to point out, but furthering his argument, special elections favor Republicans. Republicans have historically done better in special elections not just in Minnesota, but around the country. To squeak by in this special election when the district voted roughly 75% GOP previously shows that the Republican talking point is for lack of a better word… crap. Sean
As I posted before, Draz received a slightly higher percentage than Pawlenty and just under Bush’s percentage in 2004. He performed at about the GOP norm in the district.
And, I’m sure the DFL and its liberal allies outspent the GOP by two or three times.
No amount of your pathetic, sophomoric spin can change these facts.
Let’s just give up…
The Republican (squawking points) always win..
Uh, no, in recent years, Republicans have not done well in special elections in areas that were considered “safe” Republican areas, such as St. Cloud and Minnetonka. The moral of the story: take nothing for granted. Second, I didn’t hear any negative comments from this website about your favorite, Keith Ellison, a first-time Congressional candidate, when he underperformed Martin Sabo, a long-time incumbent, by 14 points from the previous election cycle and by an average of 12 points from the previous four election cycles. Are we to assume then that Ellison’s victory is “crap”?
Wow, I’m getting dizzy watching this spin. Which blog had posts saying that the Democrats were going to walk away with the seat? Oh that’s right, MNPublius.
Chris O’Reilly,
Wow, I’m getting dizzy watching this spin. Which blog had posts saying that the Republicans were going to walk away with the seat? Oh that’s right, MDE.
Well lets get a couple of things straight, to compare the percentage that Pawlenty and Bush got in the district does not only misrepresent what takes place but distorts the facts, Local races such as these have a completely different dynamic than the high profile races and different candidates from different parties win in different districts. For example in District 40A, Bush won the district in 2004 and Pawlenty in 2006, yet a DFLer, Will Morgan, defeated incumbent Duke Powell in 2006. NEWS FLASH!!!!!! VOTERS SPLIT TICKETS FREQUENTLY!!
Nitro,
Chris O’Reilly. If the shoe fits…
wtm,
Did anyone issue press releases claiming Congressman Ellison’s victory indicated any kind of “growing momentum?”
The voters wisely rejected the Democrat lies and swatter their anointed moonbat down.
‘Nuff said.
“and swatter their anointed moonbat down.” ????? Please learn to speak/write English or go back to where you or your ancestors came from.
OK. I am a conservative Republican who has followed this race closely. Fast forward through the echo chatter.
What possible political environment could have benefitted the DFL more in this race?
The fact is that the DFL had the press releases ready. They thought they were going to win. Political Earthquake. DFL wins Sviggum seat. No Safe District For GOP. The headlines were ready to go.
Pfeilsticker ran a good campaign and the DFL put on a good effort. 3000 votes would have won any head to head special election in the last ten years.
There is something bigger at play than simply the index of the district. The fact is that if you look at all of the house seats, this seat is in the middle of Republican GOP members in terms of safety. Far below many currently held by DFLers in the house.
Add to the index the worst climate for Republicans in the past 40 years (yes we are now according to Rasmussen below 1974 levels) and candidate issues well exposed by this site, and the bridge collapse, you have a formula for DFL victory.
If you are a DFLer trying to explain this victory away as an index issue, I am certainly delighted that you have your head in the sand.
Ross:
FYI — Bush did not win 40A (Morgan’s district) in 2004. Kerry did, by a very slim margin. Check the 2005 edition of the blue book published by the SOS.
The win only means another red wacky district like Queen Bachmann’s. Who cares…the hicks gotta gather together and live somewhere…
Jeff-
Thank you very much for the correction, I appreciate it, I should just blame my forgetful memory, but why not blame the result tamering former secretary of state. lol