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Can Gas Prices Help Dems Win House Races? Sure, As Long As Dems Do The Buying
Democratic House candidate Travis Childers -- whose special election tomorrow in Mississippi is being closely watched by national strategists in both parties as a test case for Dems trying to make headway in deep-read districts -- has come up with an interesting way to give some attention to high fuel prices: Holding a campaign event at a gas station, promising up to ten gallons at only $1.25 per gallon to the first 50 motorists to come by and talk with the candidate.
A similar trick was done in an Indiana House primary, with Republican candidate Luke Puckett giving out gasoline for free. Puckett won his primary with 48% in a three-way race.
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This takes pandering to an all new, absurd level!
May 12, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Better Democrats, please.
May 12, 2008 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll say.
I liked the response from one of Davis' staff:
Having lived in Oxford (about a half hour west of Tupelo, depending on the route you took) for seven years, I have to say that people there were really worried about Fidel Castro drilling for oil in Lousiana.
Not.
May 12, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
My reaction's pretty much the same. On the other hand, though, consider the district he's running in. If it means another Democratic gain in a place no one thought Dems could ever win again, more power to him. I guess we'll find out soon enough.
May 12, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dan Inouye (D- HI)Just endorsed Obama as well.
May 12, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did you mean to say Daniel Akaka (via DemConWatch)? My understanding was Inouye was a staunch HRC backer.
May 12, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes! My bad. It's Akaka.
May 12, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Fall campaign won't be about gas prices. By the time Sept rolls around those $3.75-4.20 gas prices will have dropped by $.50 at least.
This rise in gas prices over the past 7 years was to play CATCH UP.
The oil companies, taking advantage of having two oil men and a GOP Congress, have slowly but surely raised the price of gas a few cents each year. During the summers they would raise them to an extreme amount, then in the fall drop them by half the SUMMER INCREASE -- Americans end up thinking, "WOW, a big discount".
They get us USE to the high prices so that when they drop by a few pennies, we're all thrilled.
Now that Bush and the GOP are LEAVING, they oil companies are making one last pitch. We'll end up with prices ranging between $3-3.35 per gallon by Nov. election day.
All PRE-planned.
By the way...the economy will be improving by then too.
Guess what ISSUE will be in the limelight? SECURITY -- again (don't forget our UPDATE for the General in Sept on Iraq -- troops will be coming home - at least to the point we had in Jan 2007).
May 12, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Totally unrelated, but I am glad TPM has stopped the breathless reporting of every damn poll....
Althuogh, as an aside, I did notice Gallup has Obama ahead of Clinton by 7 nationally now....and performing better than her against McCain nationally and in NC.
"Unelectable", indeed.
May 12, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hawaii Senator is Super # 280 for Obama
http://thepage.time.com/obama-release-on-sen-akakas-endorsement/
May 12, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Uh, okay. It's not technically illegal since the candidate isn't buying votes but this is horrible precedent.
May 12, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
When I was in college, there was a candidate in a very competitive race who was giving out pizza around campus.
I ate the pizza. But I ended up voting for someone else.
May 12, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Domino Effect.
May 12, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
*golf clap*
May 12, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eric, wasn't that candidate sanctioned by Student Judiciary? Unless we're talking about something else, then I would say it happens at UW frequently.
May 12, 2008 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
This seems like vote buying...I'm not a fan of this. Let's win on the issues, not on handouts and gimmicks.
May 12, 2008 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, it beats buying them beer (twelve pack per vote)or shine (quart per vote)like over the river in WVA
May 12, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink