Alan Levin Will Not Break His Silence Tomorrow, Still Worried About Protack
Keep in mind that this is Wrong Williams so it is equally likely that Levin will make a big announcement tomorrow.
Alan Levin’s still not ready to campaign
OPINION
Ron Williams
Tomorrow is Alan Levin’s last day as chairman of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and then he’ll be free to run for governor. He’s expected to file the required paperwork later this month, but don’t expect an announcement until February.I don’t know who’s running this seemingly reluctant campaign schedule. While Democrats John Carney and Jack Markell are out raising millions of dollars, Levin keeps getting tagged in the media as the expected or suspected or unannounced Republican candidate. It makes the campaign and Levin look suspiciously unsure of themselves.
Meanwhile, we recently discovered who’s not running the Levin campaign, despite a Dec. 5 item here to the contrary. Don Mell, the former campaign manager for Bill Lee’s gubernatorial runs, has walked as chief strategist for Levin, according to an inside source.
Do we already have turmoil in a campaign that hasn’t even opened yet?
Word from Republicans is that the campaign infrastructure for Levin — when it’s announced — will include several former staffers from the 2000 Bill Roth fiasco, which included bad polling data and led to the election of Tom Carper.
Levin himself was a Roth staff member before he took over as CEO of the Happy Harry’s drugstore back in the 1980s.
First Castle leaves a big question mark hanging in the air and now this? Like WIlliams or hate him, that is a pretty bruising editorial and it is a sad fact that more Delawarean’s read Williams than read this blog.
Whatever happens Levin has managed to give everyone the impression that he is half hearted at best.
Ron Williams got it wrong. In 2000 Minner beat Lee. Carper’s term was up at Governor. Carper beat Roth for the U.S. Senate seat.
In 2000 Roth got 44% to Carper’s 56%. That was despite Roth having passed out on the campaign trail, I don’t know how Williams chalks that loss up to a “polling data” debacle.
The link inside the NJ version on the word “data” goes nowhere.
Levin’s big problem is that he’s using an old calendar. I keep hearing that an announcement date doesn’t matter, that January left plenty of time, that Delawareans don’t pay attention to elections this early, etc., etc. What this shows is a lack of adaptability; with the presidential election starting extra early (I blame it on Bush fatigue), we’re operating in a new era — and Levin still hasn’t figured that out. It makes him seem backward-looking — “this is how Delaware has always done it” — which is hardly the way to approach a change-oriented election.
Roth’s pollster Arthur Finkelstein was still telling him a few days out that he was going to win. Had they had better data, they could have changed their strategy the last few weeks out. I don’t think it would have mattered, but the margin might have been much smaller.
– Selander
Mr.Levin blew any good will he had by selling out a decent company to satisfy his own greed. Every time Happy Harry’s is mentioned people will think of the disaster called Walgreens and laugh at Levin.
Loser Levin will not run.
Williams may have gotten one right.
Selander’s right. The same polling told us we were within the margin of error with Ruthie.
Oh goody. Another Protack trolling name surfaces to make the same allegations against Levin that EVERY SINGLE ONE of the Protack trolls repeats.
Mike, the days of pretending to have supporters by making up screen names are over. Of course, you could always illustrate the depth of your support by holding a public fund-raiser — you know, the kind where real people pay real money to support their guy. When can we look forward to that? Mike? Mike?
To second Al’s idea, I hereby vow to attend such a fundraiser. Then you know exactly who I am… the guy that shows up.
I’ve also wondered why Levin has waited so long to announce. Given that the Markell v. Carney primary race has already been the subject of many news stories and the coverage of Protack has sullied the reputation of the DE GOP at levels only exceeded by its chairperson Terry Strine, you’d think he had jumped in by now to stop the political momentum from becoming an unnavigable torrent.
It makes me just a tad suspicious. It makes me wonder if he had a business deal or two he had to ice so that if necessary he could say later on “I entered into those deals before I had made up my mind to run.”
“I’ve also wondered why Levin has waited so long to announce.”
Is there some timetable established that I’m unaware of?
It seems to me that the folks moving up the timelines are using it as a ploy to discourage others from entering a race.
Races use to start in the Spring of the year of the election.
I think all this artificial pushback is just a means to raise more money given the campaigns more time and events, thus discouraging further participation.
I don’t think we should read too much into when a person announces.
Delaware voters deserve the additional time to question Alan Levin. His holding off on his announcement limits voters’ contact with him and allows him to avoid tricky issue questions until he gets his campaign staff in place.
But since he’s able to drop $4M in television ads without flinching to introduce himself over the summer, it’s a smart (if cynical) political move to hold off.
Delaware is not for sale, especially to Mr. Levin. You say he is smart or cynical, I say he is damaged goods propped up by a failed GOP leadership which is very close to extinction. He can drop $10 million is TV ads and it won’t matter. All people will remember is a guy who was greedy beyond belief and is an insider in a year where all of us want change.
Campaign staff? you mean the tired old hacks who lost two special elections and every statewide race there is?? The Delaware GOP has no talent and the hired guns are a big waste of money.
DemDeon – Delaware deserves a lengthy and robust debate with their candidates. Levin’s delaying tactics limit that because the more time he spends as an announced candidate, the more likely he is to lose.
I doubt he spends $10M, but $4M can do a huge amount of damage to the Dem candidate if the attacks are left unanswered. He really needs to be taken seriously as an opponent.
There are lots of talented operatives around the country that Levin could hire. Not “big guns,” but mid-level types that have run and won close races. You’re right that the Delaware GOP seems more closed than some other states to keeping outside talent, so hopefully they don’t join the staff.
Oh, you have to be kidding me, staff from Bill Roth? Bill was a pretty good Senator but he stayed way too long and to go back to what is left of that tired old regime is very very stupid. Typical Republican short sightedness, when you have no clue what to do you stick with the same old tired game plan.
What would be more stupid is to listen to loud mouth Al Mascitti, the News Journal reject who pretends to be a radio host. John Watson on WILM is kicking Al’s ass on WDEL and he knows it. Pretty soon he will be writing menu reviews for those free newspapers the homeless guys use for their bedding.
What is it with the Protack trolls and alliteration in the fake names?
Still trying to find an email or phone number for the guy! Talk about hiding. I want to find out what he really supports…
Dave,
When people have a different opinion than you does that require childish comments? I thought these blogs were supposed to increase comments and broaden the discussion? Or, is that only when they agree with you?
If you spent one half of the time you spend on your infatuation with me working to elect Republicans we would hold every office in the state.
I would be fine with every one using their real name and standing behind what they say. You on the other hand said you have no idea who RickJ is but he posts on your blog?
Drive carefully.
I “post” nowhere. I comment on FSP, but not nearly as much as I do here and elsewhere.
If you spent half the time trying to get yourself elected as you do sweating my identity, well… you’d still be running around like a mustachioed chicken with his head cut off.
Looking forward to your year-end report.
Mike — Your trolls are only trolls because they post under fake names and often viciously personally attack other people like they are doing above. And your trolls happen to attack people who criticize you.
Call off the dogs, Mike. I know who they are and you know who they are. So every word that exits your phony mouth on this subject is hypocrisy.
Dave,
Then please post who they are, inquiring minds want to know. We are all waiting for your information.
RickJ,
Trust me , I spend no time thinking about your identity-none.
If I could prove it beyond a reasonable doubt, I would. But all I have is a mountain of circumstancial evidence. And since you bastards like to throw around fake lawsuit threats, I’ll hold my powder.
Speaking of pretend lawsuits, it’s been over 5 months since you threatened to sue me for publishing the truth about you and your trolls. How’s that coming?
Mike –
You have, on at least a dozen comments on this website, demanded a face-to-face meeting with me. You have, on this website, decried everything I’ve said because I use a pseudonym. You spend no time thinking about my identity like I spend no time thinking about how you can afford push polls, mailings, websites and the other expenses of a campaign without donors. One week until reporting day…