Delaware Political Weekly: March 29-April 4, 2024

Filed in Delaware, Featured by on April 7, 2024

1. BHL AWOL. SOL?  She’s apparently trying to still raise money.  But, she’s been missing campaign events, including a Suxco Candidates’ Forum.   She also missed a recent event in the Ardens.  Both Meyer and O’Mara attended, as did a host of other candidates.  I think she’s in the death rattle phase of her campaign.  The numerous fundraisers is a ‘tell’.  She needs to raise money.  She’s not raising nearly enough online.  Physical fundraisers are expensive and require a lot of time to put together.  We saw pictures of the sparsely-attended event that Our PAL Val held for her in December.  Pretty much everybody in the picture were from the building/construction trades.  Not a lot of smiles.  Didn’t do much to help her year-end financial report either.  Meyer and O’Mara have plenty of money in the bank for the campaign.  She doesn’t.  She’s got two ‘virtual’ fundraisers set to try to activate a national network of nurses who, hopefully for her, haven’t read about her campaign finance three-card monte game.  BTW, while Carney hasn’t officially endorsed her, he’s doing weaselly behind-the-scenes stuff.  You know, like this from her Facebook page:

Thank you to Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long for promoting health resources in our community. The Health and Wellness Fair is a reminder to schedule your annual screenings and connect with the resources available in our community.
If you or someone you know is making a difference in the health and wellness space, nominate them for the Lt. Governor’s challenge by Monday, April 1. https://ltgovernorschallenge.org/how-to-nominate.
Come to think of it,  Carney is weaselly.  His non-endorsement endorsement of BHL. His endorsement of Eugene Young, which has nothing to do with Eugene Young.   Were it not for the Carper push for him to be Lt. Governor, Carney would be Sean Barney.  Actually, Carney never would have run for anything on his own.  An accidental politician.  A bad one at that.
Back to BHL.  What’s the over/under date on when she drops out?  To me, that’s the only remaining question.
2.  Well, Look Who Just Filed A PAC Committee.  Yep, the Delaware Healthcare Association.  Yes, it has everything to do with the possibility that their charges/costs could be reviewed by a public body.  Their state purpose:
Delaware Healthcare Association Political Action Committee (DHAPAC) represents healthcare executives in their role of promoting effective change in health services through collaboration and consensus.
Whatever you say.
3.  James Taylor Running Again In RD 2.  Presumably against Stephanie Bolden.  Once again, a missed opportunity.  His website doesn’t suck.  Hard to believe there isn’t a decent candidate anywhere to be found in this Wilmington district.  We don’t need an anti-progressive homophobe in Dover (‘You’re Not One Of Those Wokies, Are You?’), even if it means two more years of Bolden.
4.  Is Terrell Williams The New Dennis E. Williams?  Nothing against the guy, but does he have a plan to win, and/or why is he compelled to run every time around?  Decent, guy, decent platform, but he pretty much defines the term ‘history repeating itself’.  In 2020, he ran in a State Senatorial primary against incumbent Bruce Ennis and challenger Kyra Hoffner.  Finished third with 21.8%.  In 2022, challenged Kevin Hensley, got 44.1%.  Hey, maybe if Hensley doesn’t run, he might win.  Even Dennis E. Williams caught lightning in a bottle.  Briefly.
That’s all I’ve got for this belated report.  What’d I miss and whaddayathink?

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  1. Bill DM says:

    Just gonna drop this here… Hall-Long met with the 37th RD a month ago: https://www.capegazette.com/article/hall-long-address-37th-rd-dems-march-13/271422. Perhaps it was O’Mara and Meyer who couldn’t attend that event.

  2. OldTimer says:

    I almost want to say that Carney has had a major fall from grace, but that implies he was once in amazing graces of the public. He’s managed to involve himself in the dullest way possible with the least inspiring campaigns this year and has made seemingly zero impact in the governor or congressional race. Quack quack, you lame duck…

    • Hmm says:

      What metrics are you using for this analysis? The only reasonable way you could measure his impact on the congressional race is to see if he was able to give Eugene a bump with donors. The first report that will show that isn’t due until the 15th.

      • Anon says:

        It’s well known Carney has been helping Eugene with fundraising since last year and it made no difference. If Carney was going to have an effect, it would have been clear last year. I think it’s very possible Eugene has his best report yet, but that’s mostly a result of him leaving his job and focusing entirely on the campaign.

        But to even begin to catch up, Eugene wouldn’t need to just have his best quarter, he’d need to rival McBride’s quarter.

        • Anon says:

          I should say, that’s mostly a result of him leaving his job and focusing entirely on the campaign *and* because his other quarters have been embarrassingly low.

          • I love Eugene, I really do.

            But Sarah is a juggernaut, Eugene just chose the wrong time, the wrong race, and the wrong opponent.

            Look on the bright side, though. Carney’s next original idea will be his first. Perhaps he names Eugene his chief-of-staff.

            Meaning that Eugene, in effect, will be the mayor of Wilmington he should have been back in 2016.

            • Jason says:

              McBride would have demolished Chris Coons, and will be a US Senator as soon as Coons or LBR gets tired of it.

              That’s how far ahead of Young she is.

              • Y’know, she could be in the Senate as early as next year.

                Here’s how: Biden gets reelected. He gives Coons a position in his cabinet. Coons has been lobbying for one since Biden was elected.

                While the Governor technically would name Coons’ replacement, Gov. Minner deferred to Biden when she named his choice Ted Kaufman to serve out his Senate term.

                The Bidens have always been close to the McBrides. I can’t imagine him pushing for anybody else…

  3. Jason says:

    I know he wants it, but really can’t see Coons being offered a cabinet spot. I mean, Biden has worked with him long enough to know him pretty well. Only clueless DC insiders from places like Politico and Meet the Press think they are close.

    • I think Biden views McBride in the Senate as historic. Doesn’t have to be Secretary of State, could be Ambassador to Israel…

    • mediawatch says:

      I’m convinced Coons wants to be secretary of state and that he’s arrogant enough to refuse any other Cabinet position if Biden were to offer it to him.
      As for the McBride to Senate scenario if Coons were to join the Cabinet, Biden had better wait on the appointment until the new governor to takes office. Let Carney make the choice and Eugene would be in the Senate. (Not necessarily bad, but one hell of a consolation prize for losing a House primary.)

      • Alby says:

        This only happens if Biden decides his current team is too hard on Israel.

      • Absolutely would have to wait until a new Governor was sworn in. Otherwise, we could end up with Jeff Bullock in the Senate.

        Any new Governor would defer to Biden on his choice.