Latest “whip counts” are trending away from supporting the President’s call for a humanitarian bombing of Syria to kill just the right number of civilians to send a message to Assad and evil doers everywhere. Firm Nay’s continue to mount while firm Yeah’s are still few and far between. If and when a vote finally comes, will a “Yes” vote from the Delaware delegation, that does not represent the feelings of Delawareans, hurt “C-cubed” on election day?
C-cubed has been fairly transparent about its intended votes. this Washington Post item is FireDogLake’s source for listing Delaware as:
Coons: Firm Yes
Carper: Leaning Yes
Carney: Leaning No
(I think they’ve misread Carney, but if he isn’t putting out any statements to clarify his position, who knows?)
So, with Delaware leaning “No” being represented by a congressional delegation leaning “Yes,” can we expect any fireworks at the ballot box? If you follow first state politics at all, that question should provoke a giggle. There are a number of reasons why “Yes” votes will not hurt our Senators or Representative.
For one thing, the DEGOP has never been more flat on its back. There is simply nobody in the wings that can mount a legitimate statewide campaign. Neither is there any charismatic savior ready to convert his or her personal popularity into votes, and their savings into bonfire fuel. Will the GOP get someone on the ballot line? Yes, but will the likes of Rose Izzo win voters to her new found pacifism? I seriously doubt it.
That leaves whatever voter unhappiness to be expressed in Democratic primaries. There will be no Democratic primaries, so that option is out. Even if there were a chance for a primary, a challenger needs more than one vote to run against.
Finally, time is on the side of a mis-vote here. If the vote comes now, it will be a distant memory by election day. “C cubed” knows this. This Syria issue feels highly combustible right now, but like last year’s Christmas tree, when it goes it will be over in a matter of seconds, and everyone will be back to their Saint Patrick’s Day drinking*.
(* this metaphor assumes everyone ceremonially burns their Christmas tree on St Patrick’s Day, like I do.)