Oopsies!

Don't you just hate it when you're a Democratic candidate for US Congress from Delaware, and something like this happens?: image1
Wilmington Mayor’s Race — Undecided Leads the Pack

Wilmington Mayor’s Race — Undecided Leads the Pack

The News Journal released the results of their poll last night, which shows the race being much closer than the common wisdom (including mine) would have suggested. Here's the numbers: Kevin Kelly 18% Mike Purzycki 14% Dennis Williams 13% Theo Gregory 11% Eugene Young 9% Norm Griffiths 8% Robert Marshall 2% Maria Cabrera 2% Undecided 21% The margin of error on this poll is 5.8 and reached landlines only. This surveyed likely Democratic voters. This polly also asked about registration and primary practices -- where we find that this group of likely Democratic voters think that it should be easier to switch parties to vote and that primaries should be open.
PDD Debate Series: Meyer v. Gordon

PDD Debate Series: Meyer v. Gordon

I may return to my old haunt just to see this:
Progressive Democrats for Delaware Democratic Primary Candidate Forum New Castle County 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 3rd 19 E. Commons Blvd, 2nd Fl. New Castle DE 19720 For NCC Executive: Tom Gordon and Matt Meyer. NCC Council President: Penrose Hollins, Dave Roberts and Karen Hartley-Nagle. Come out and bring your questions for county government!
Mark your calendars!

Tuesday Open Thread [7.12.16]

I remember saying this some weeks ago and being laughed at by the Sanderistas here. Now that Bernie agrees with me that the Democratic Party has the most progressive platform ever, who is laughing now? Hell, even Jeff Weaver is on board. Here is more on just how liberal and progressive the Democratic platform is, and that we do have Bernie to thank for it. His campaign, in the end, did exactly what I wanted it to do: keep Hillary on the left by giving her the incentive to stay there. Without Sanders or any serious challenge from progressive quarters, I am not sure Hillary would have moved dramatically to the center or right because American politics doesn't work like that anymore. There are no moderates to win over in that middle ground. Everyone is polarized and turning out your own base is the way to win. But the Sanders challenge helped Hillary shed the last vestiges of 90's caution and to be vocal about her progressive positions.

Governor Carney, Borrow and Built the Economy Don’t Cut and Crater it

Carney inexplicably STILL wants to cut the state budget, not grow it. In spite of all of the evidence to the contrary, he still views debt as an anathema, and growth killing austerity as a virtue. He basically still believes in the utter failed Republican economics of trickle down. It makes no sense, and in the era of very cheap borrowing, it is the exact opposite of what we should actually be doing. And what's worse, the markets have taken notice.[See Swiss Negative Yield Bonds] Smart money is beginning to adjust to the new normal and accept the fact that deficit hawks and austerity evangelists like Carney are determined to strangle economic growth with their wrongheadedness - which would be simply goofy at this point, were it not so pernicious. Here is Paul Krugman on the topic:
Delaware Political Weekly: Filing Deadline Countdown Edition

Delaware Political Weekly: Filing Deadline Countdown Edition

The filing deadline is this Tuesday, July 12 at 12 noon. After Tuesday, parties may file candidates, but individuals cannot file on their own separate from the party.  The deadline for withdrawing one's candidacy and getting one's filing fee returned is this Friday, July 15 at 4:30 pm.  Friday is also the deadline for candidates to switch from one race to another.  I'll likely be out campaigning for the candidate of my choice (Bryan Townsend) at the Tuesday deadline, so please keep us posted on any last minute developments.