Republicans Win Ohio Special Election
The Republicans have retained their vacant House seat in Ohio, winning the Fifth Congressional District special election caused by the death of GOP Congressman Paul Gillmor. The Associated Press projects that state Rep. Bob Latta has won the seat, defeating Democratic candidate Robin Weirauch.
With 53.24% of precincts currently reporting, Latta has 55.79% of the vote to Weirauch's 44%. Democrats had made a strong push for the seat, taking advantage of the divisive Republican primary, but the district's demographics were just too strong — President Bush carried the area by a 22% margin in 2004. They can take some heart, however, in that they forced the cash-strapped National Republican Congressional Committee to spend over $400,000 on the race.
To the Democratic Leadership: lead or get out of the way!
December 11, 2007 9:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm actually pretty miffed with how the DCCC and the Ohio Dems spun this race.
The bottom line is this a rock-ribbed GOP District that hasn't elected a Dem to the House since the New Deal, and Weirauch was hardly a top-flight candidate. Now the Republicans will spin this a great victory.
December 11, 2007 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why do I feel we just gotta preview of Clinton v. Huckleberry?
December 11, 2007 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rats!!!!!!
December 11, 2007 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bottom line is this was never a seat race but a money race. Good to drain them for 400K on an off-date race.
December 11, 2007 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never thought we'd win this but as Orion said, it's great that we got the national Republicans to throw away almost a quarter of their cash-on-hand.
December 11, 2007 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Madorsky:
I think the Republicans were the ones spinning it. Wasn't it the Republican candidate's internal poll that said the Democrat was leading by a few points? A campaign wouldn't normally disclose something like that without a reason. Of course some of the folks at Politico.com (which I believe was the source on that) will repeat any rumor they hear just to prove how wired in they are, but when it comes to internal campaign polls, the rule of thumb is always caveat emptor.
December 11, 2007 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another blow to the Dems. The fact that the GOP took this district with 57% in an open race (which is exactly the same margin as Paul Gillmor got in 2006) suggests that the GOP is stronger here than they were in 2006. The Dems aren't performing as well at the polls as they were in 2006 and it's showing. Not that it should be any surprise, considering their ridiculous performance in Congress.
December 12, 2007 3:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
This was supposed to be a runaway for the Repubs. They spend alot of loot to retain a safe seat....nothing to crow about to the sharp eye.
December 12, 2007 6:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is Eric Kreefeld capable of balanced analysis on any political/election topic?
What his post does not even mention is the fact that the Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate have failed to deliver anythng of substance for the voters who gave them the majority. This Congress was elected to end the war in Iraq and, instead, unbelievably, have enable Bush's ESCALATION of that war. It was elected to 'check and balance" a President who is in effect a dictator and it has rolled over.
The Democratic leadership should look at this Ohio race as a belleweather. With Bush's record, that seat should have been an easy take for Democrats. But why would Democratic voters work hard, support and turn out in masses to elect a Democrat to Congress, when it just doesn't matter? Why would independents support a Democrat? The Democrats in Congress are little different from the Republican, lots of bold talk, but no action, and in the end they are letting Bush do whatever he wants.
If Demcocrats think they have an easy election ahead in 2008, they should look at polls on Congressional approvals. The movement that is slowly but steadily taking hold is "Kick the Bums Out" "Return No Incumbents -- Rep. or Dem. - To Congress in 2008" Restore the voice of the people, restore democracy in 2008!
December 12, 2007 6:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Strike two. The democrats better wake up fast.
December 12, 2007 8:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mr. Adlof above says it all.
CNN survey released the other day again showed Edwards was more electible over all Republicans and excelled over Obama as well.
There is no point in making this a close election when it does not have to be.
If Dems want to lead, they need first to pick someone who is electible. They need to pick someone who is willing to FIGHT for a change.
Pay attention to Edwards.
December 12, 2007 8:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
gtash,
Thank you for expressing the truth so directly. The problem is that to this point the game has purely been about money and who the corporate maedia wants to talk about.
Our favorite Goldwater Girl remains the best Republican in the field only . . . Clinton registered for the wrong race . . . AND Obama has been running to the the right of Her Royal Crownship for the last six weeks.
Ewards problem is he is likeable and saying the correct things. He points out shortfalls in his opponents platforms and gets called 'negative' for it, while his opponents barf up crap and name call and backbite and are called geniuses. See the Dana Milbank piece from the other day.
Ewards is a Democrat and a Democrat stands the best chance in 2008. Unfortunately, the press has been prootecting their corporate nature this election season.
The other issue is to know Obama and Clinton and the Republicans is to dislike them. Edwards got vetted by the media four years ago and all they came up with then was Limbuagh's Breck Girl comments and that he is too nice.
Ultimately, this race is for the Democrats to loose. Unfortunately for America, they have gotten really good at that.
December 12, 2007 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
2008 Presidential Election Weekly Poll
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Results Posted Weekly Tuesday Evening At Midnight.
December 12, 2007 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink