Celia Cohen on why Ken Simpler sat out this year
In short: The Dem primary is the election in Presidential years. Team Simpler will be back in two years with the “I’m not really a Republican” theme they used to great effect last time, and will probably give Lisa Blunt Rochester a decent run for her money. Has LBR started fundraising for 2018 yet? Sad to say, but she better get on that.
Now that the votes are in, though, it does not take a doctorate in political science to know what comes next, because the 2016 election is a presidential year.
The Democrats have put together such a streak here in presidential years, Delaware looks like something out of Pablo Picasso’s blue period.
This one is shaping up to be more of the same. The major political forecasters, like FiveThirtyEight and The Upshot in the New York Times, are collectively predicting there is better than a 90 percent chance that Delaware will go for Hillary Clinton, and the electorate’s current proclivities toward straight-ticket voting ought to be enough to carry the Democrats down the ballot.
Sorry, Republicans, but really. There is no reason to linger. Stop looking back longingly at 1988.
“Last time” Simpler was running for an office that nobody cares about.
True. But those offices are the Triple-A league. Nobody grows up dreaming of being a minor league baseball player, and no politician runs for Treasurer thinking that they aren’t US Congress material.
This is true, but let’s remember; Lisa Blunt Rochester is no Sean Barney (thank God!!). Simpler didn’t win the race, Barney lost it, by coming across as totally unqualified for the office he was seeking, while, let’s face it, Ken Simpler ran a very professional campaign. I know I had to hold my nose when I voted for Barney, and if I was surprised by anything in that race, it was how close it was.
I was a strong Townsend guy, but I have nothing but good things to say about Lisa. I’ll be proud to vote for her in Nov., and I have faith that she’ll be around for a long, long time.
If I’m Simpler I wait and run against Carney in four years.
The problem with that is it is another presidential year. His people know that his best shot at moving up is during a mid-term when Dems typically stay home.
Of course, Carney could suck, and that would open a door. But I doubt Carney will be adventurousness enough to suck or be great. He seems pretty content being viewed as merely adequate.
The Republicans are much, much better at candidate recruitment that the D’s in delaware. They are playing a long game and they’re doing it very smartly. They have Meredith Chapman and what do we have? Andria Bennett? Dave Bentz? Sigh.
Another reason why Daniello needs to go and go soon.
I agree. Someone smart (eg. not Copeland) is behind Chapman, Delcollo, and Spadola. They are going to take some lumps initially, but I can’t help thinking it is part of a longer range plan.
Just check out James Spadola’s web page. He is literally saying “I’m not that kind of Republican.” http://jamesspadola.com/issues/
This campaign against McDowell is heavily informed by Ken Simpler’s win against Barney.
D’s in the suburban portion of McDowell’s district, especially along Philadelphia Pike, are tired of his indifferent attitude. Spadola is making a very positive impression with them. It’s been a long time since McDowell has faced such an appealing opponent. I don’t think he loses, but it will be closer than he was expecting at the start of the campaign.
Interesting. I may have to dig into this race a little.
“I am fiscally conservative and liberal on many social issues.”
With so many social problems caused by poverty and income inequality, is it actually possible to be both fiscally conservative and liberal on social issues?
If you are liberal only on social issues that don’t cost the rich anything (for example, gay marriage), are you really socially liberal?
Spadola has a lot in common with one of the darlings here, Meyer. I see the danger in that and all you nice people need to look past the ends of your collective noses or you will get something you will regret for a long time, Cheers
D’s in the suburban portion of McDowell’s district, especially along Philadelphia Pike, are tired of his indifferent attitude.
I speak to plenty of D’s in the city in his district who are openly thinking about voting for Spadola.
Spadola has a lot in common with one of the darlings here, Meyer.
Not really. Meyer has staked out plenty of perfectly progressive positions on a number of issues and certainly ran a more progressive campaign than Gordon did. Still, I will note that the effort to label Meyer a stealth Republican came from the Gordon and the Williams campaigns.
I don’t like either one of these guys. My issue is neither is who they say they are IMHO. I did support TG and I will vote for Harris as I live in the 4th of the 7th. However I did not participate in any stealth R talk what I did do was observe a guy that gives me a real bad feeling at the gut level. I am going to see what happens with him and will vote for him in Nov. I am impressed by where his margin came from quite frankly and as an old guy as long as the sewers flow and 911 is answered promptly I am not all that affected by NCC gov. As to Spadola i see real D support for him as well and he is actively seeking traditional D voters, evidenced by his LGBT event and his showing up at events sponsored by Democrats. but ask him who he is voting for for President? I saw him skirt the question. you really want a guy who wont repudiate Trump? Really? ps: as to the Williams remark I am ecstatic with his loss, blown away by Eugene’s showing and glad that a guy who once physically threatened me at a time when I was not in a position to do anything but withdraw is well gonzo!
Ask Spadola who he will support for President Pro Tem if the R’s take a majority in the Senate? Who would you prefer Mr Spadola- Patti Blevins or Greg Lavelle?
Mitch we both know the answer, strange bedfellows indeed! Msgr. Greg may well also be the ‘Godfather”
If I can vote for Meyer all you pure libs might want to consider that actions have consequences and swallow a little impurity:)
Puck. It is a bunch of bullshit, naturally. But it is bullshit Simpler was able to win with. And why shouldn’t Republicans win when they appeal to Dems as socially liberal while “Democrats” work to be perceived as fiscal conservatives? Look at merideth Chapmans web site. It is impossible to work out her party affiliation.
It seems to me a lot of the talk about Spadola could be copy/pasted from the 2014 talk about Rob Kessler’s run against Brady. It was the same “He’s such a moderate, running such a good campaign, the district is tired of Brady…” And then what happened? Kessler was crushed. AND in a wave Republican year no less.
I predict the same thing will happen to Spadola.