I am getting spoiled with these new and frequent Delaware polls…

I am getting spoiled with these new and frequent Delaware polls…

Here is the latest: ATTORNEY GENERAL BEAU BIDEN (D)
Sixty percent [66%] of respondents to the poll, conducted Sept. 10-22 by phone, viewed [Beau Biden,] the second-term attorney general[,] favorably. Just 24 percent of the 902 Delaware adults surveyed held an unfavorable view.
VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN (D)
Joe Biden's numbers are at least as good, and maybe better. Sixty-four [64%] percent of adults surveyed held a favorable view, while 30 percent said they viewed the vice president, and Delaware's longtime U.S. senator, unfavorably.
GOV. JACK MARKELL (D)
Gov. Jack Markell's popularity slipped slightly in the past year, but his numbers remain strong. In last month's poll, 55 percent viewed the governor favorably, while 25 percent viewed Markell unfavorably. That's down from a 62 percent favorability rating in a University of Delaware poll a year ago.
We also have favorability numbers on our Congressional delegation (the three C's), Lt. Governor Denn, and we even have 2016 Presidential horse race numbers for Hillary Clinton and some possible Republican opponents.
Flowers Endorses… ?

Flowers Endorses… ?

Flowers:
Based upon this principle and the questionable actions over the last 60 days, I cannot in good conscience endorse a candidate for this office. Rather, I encourage voters to support the candidate who has not only campaigned with the highest integrity, but has the financial education and experience to manage our $2 billion portfolio, will continue the “Honest Way” reforms to the Cash Board which have made over $50 million in returns for Delaware and supports mandatory background checks for those state employees having access to our state financial accounts.
First, questionable actions? The only questionable actions were Mr. Flowers' in his personal life. And yet he somehow holds Sean Barney responsible for it, otherwise he would endorse him. Barney is not responsible. Markell and Carper are not responsible. The minions behind all three of them are not responsible. The story after embarrassing story that we endured over the last three years with Chip Flowers and Alaska trips and Patriots tickets and his relationship with Ericka Benner, none of that was created by Jack Markell, Tom Carper or Sean Barney. Oh sure, they all took full advantage of it, just like a football player jumps on a ball when it is fumbled. If Chip Flowers is bitter and wants to blame someone, he needs to purchase a mirror. I was so looking forward to his tenure because I did want someone to challenge the Governor and shake things up. And the future politico in me saw this extraordinarily good retail politician going far, perhaps challenging Denn in 2016 for the gubernatorial nod, or settling for the Lt. Governor's spot. To beat the King, you have to be clean, and you better not miss. As to his very snarky non-endorsement endorsement of Ken Simpler simply because he ran a hedge fund, well I guess I thought Chip Flowers was supposed to be the anti-corporate Democratic hero. I guess he forgot that in his bitterness. That has to be the deciding factor since both candidates, Barney and Simpler, have pretty stellar educational backgrounds. The difference between them is that Sean chose public service and the military, and Ken went into the private sector. So enjoy that endorsement Ken, I say smiling.

Thursday Open Thread [10.2.14]

"With a strong possibility that Democrats could lose control of the Senate in the midterm elections, they are investing heavily in voter turnout efforts," the New York Times reports.
"In states too close to call like Alaska, Colorado, Iowa and North Carolina, Democrats are making much greater investments in the ground game than Republicans."
The goal is to turn out a more representative electorate that we seen in presidential years. If we can make progress on that, then the Democrats will win in the states that tend to favor them in presidential years, namely North Carolina, Iowa, Colorado and more and more Georgia. And we have some more polling goodness to show that maybe, just maybe, that ground game is working.

“Delaware millionaire gets prison sentence”

I think we can all agree that it is pretty rare for an actual 1%er to get jail time. So rare, in fact, that I think the NJ headline writer did a good job capturing the essence of this surprising story.
Delaware millionaire gets prison sentence PHILADELPHIA – Former eBay executive Christopher Saridakis of Greenville, Delaware, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for insider trading Wednesday by a U.S. District Court judge.
I Guess He is Back from Massachusetts…

I Guess He is Back from Massachusetts…

Treasurer Chip Flowers (D), who withdrew from running for reelection back in August, has announced that he will be announcing his endorsement of a potential successor tomorrow. I wonder if there is any Delaware precedent for a refusal of an endorsement.

Wednesday Open Thread [10.1.14]

"You women don't understand -- guns are for men what jewelry is for women." -- Rep. Steve King (R-IA), oh so popular with the ladies. And Mr. King, I, as a man, do not view a gun as a fashion accessory to be worn for display only. I, as a man, view a gun as a tool, a weapon that kills. Like a child, you view guns as a play thing.
Bonini now Copeland’s failure sponge

Bonini now Copeland’s failure sponge

In his ongoing attempt to prevent any of his DNA from being found on the DEGOP's utter failure this fall, Copeland has appointed Colin Bonini to stand in front of the shit fan.
Dear Republican Friend, I am tremendously excited to announce that I have appointed Senator Colin Bonini as Chairman of the Delaware GOP’s Victory Program! The final weeks of the campaign are the most critical, and there’s no one I’d trust more with this operation than Colin.
That's how it reads to me anyway.
Matlusky Endorses Mayrack

Matlusky Endorses Mayrack

“I ran for the Auditor’s office because I wanted to see the office work for Delawareans and protect their interests instead of special interests. Brenda wants to see the same improvements made to the office. She is overwhelmingly qualified to run the Auditor’s office,” Matlusky said. “She has established her own solo law firm where she has focused on doing exactly what the current State Auditor’s office has not effectively done—auditing.”
That is a very nice and welcome statement from Ken Matlusky, who is also a very nice guy. I am surprised though that the statement was released today. And I will tell you why....
Red Clay Super’s Message Regarding The Priority Schools’ MOU

Red Clay Super’s Message Regarding The Priority Schools’ MOU

"Please be aware that the MOU and the planning process are not the same. The MOU is an agreement to collaborate during the planning process." So... is Merv saying that the MOU is simply an invitation to get-together and chat?  That nothing in it is binding?  It's just a "Hey, could you RSVP so we can set up a time to come up with a plan that doesn't exist - just ignore all that talk in the MOU about the school leaders' salaries and teachers having to reapply for their jobs, etc. because none of that means anything." Question... the 9/30 due date is today - there's a workshop scheduled tonight. Can the board vote at a workshop? If not, what happens if the deadline isn't met?