A DIY “Most Intriguing Races For November” Thread

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What do you think will be Delaware's most intriguing races this November? I've come up with some early nominees. I'd like you to share your thoughts on my choices and on races that you think I've overlooked.  At some point soon, I'll be writing a detailed analysis of my top 10, but I'm not ready yet. Help me focus! Click through for my initial list:

Delaware Political Weekly: Sept. 8-14, 2012

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What we learned from the Primary: 1. The Gordon machine was the single most effective game-changer during the primary; 2. For once, Wilmington really made the difference this year; 3. Grassroots campaigns work, and they cost a lot less than the alternative; 4. Jack Markell is in danger of becoming a Drawbridge Democrat; 5. Tons of lit cannot compensate for personal unpopularity; and 6. Primaries are GOOD;

‘Bulo On Al’s Show Today at 10

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All primary results, all the time, with trenchant and perhaps morbid analysis. Including a post-mortem into why I think Mitch Crane lost (it's probably not what you think), dissection of all the key races, including the ouster of two incumbent state senators, and some rasslin' talk, featuring an update on Jerry 'The King' Lawler. 10 am to 12 noon, WDEL-1150 on your am dial. Click here to listen on your computer

Unrequited Love: Dennis P. Williams Dumps KWS…

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from his sample ballot. The rest of the Gordon/Williams/Bullock team remains, along with Charles Potter and Trippi Congo, but KWS is conspicuous by her absence.How do I know? I've got a proof of the ballot. She's still in league with Gordon and Bullock, however, and the three of them have ponied up $$'s to have the Construction/Building Trades unions pass out lit at the polls. Which, BTW, is a total waste of resources. Except for the union guys pocketing the chump change.

El Somnambulo Predicts ‘Em (Almost) All For You. Part 2

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And now onto the State House of Representatives: RD 1 (D): While Victoria Kent shows promise as a first-time candidate, I look for Dennis P. Williams protege Charles Potter to win in Williams’ district. Former state rep Rourke Moore has been almost invisible. I’d encourage Kent to work on developing a bit more message discipline should she decide to seek office again. She has potential, but she’s not there yet. RD 2 (D): Former State Rep. Arthur Scott challenges incumbent Stephanie Bolden. I think that Scott finds himself in something of the same time warp that has trapped Dave Brady. While there may be compelling reasons to defeat the incumbent, Scott hasn’t really made them. Bolden by a fairly comfortable margin.

El Somnambulo Predicts ‘Em All For You*. Part 1…

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*Well, not all as in ALL. Just every primary where I think I know enough to make a prediction.  Some of which, invariably, will be wrong. National Races: U. S. Senate D's: Tom Carper routs Keith Spanarelli. Over/under on Spanarelli: 12%. U. S. House R's: Tom Kovach routs Rose Izzo. Over/under on Rizzo: 11%. Come inside for more, including, as the photo suggests, my prediction on the epic 11th SD race.

Delaware Political Weekly: August 18-24, 2012

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'I Don't Need No More Steenkin' Debates'. That's the conclusion that Wilmington Mayoral candidate Dennis P. Williams has reached. He may be right. There have been something like 18 of them, and Williams has taken part in something like 17. However, recent surfacings of the famous Williams temper suggest that he may be staging a strategic retreat from the arena that often provides a glimpse into that temper.

Delaware Political Weekly: August 4-10, 2012

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I give Bill Montgomery credit. He told the truth. Not that he hasn't before, but it was a hard truth which will not likely benefit him politically. From the story in today's News-Journal:
Montgomery, the former chief of staff to current Mayor James M. Baker, predicted that a 15 percent property tax hike will be needed in the next mayor’s first year, calling it a “one-and-done” revenue boost that could help stave off future rate increases as the city braces for budget deficits projected to be about $4 million in the next two fiscal years. “I’m sorry to give you that news, but if I am your mayor, I will be seeking a double-digit tax increase, plain and simple,” Montgomery said during a candidate forum hosted by the Wilmington Rotary Club.

Delaware Political Weekly: July 28-August 3, 2012

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Signs (literally and figuratively) point to 'yes'.  This week, the black clergy (20 in all) endorsed Williams. This followed previous endorsements by the Fraternal Order of Police and Wilmington firefighters. A recent drive around the Broom Street/Baynard Boulevard area revealed not only a lot of Williams signs, but many lawns sporting both Williams signs and/or Gordon and Potter signs. Meaning that Williams has, at the least, developed synergies and perhaps working alliances with these candidates. The Montgomery campaign appears to have become dependent on former Republicans (Hal Haskell? Really?), and I'm not sure what's happened to the Kelley campaign, which had lots of energy a couple of months back.  All I see is that, in the case of Williams, the trend is his friend, and that's not the case for the only other electable candidates. I'm inclined to think that Tom Gordon has taken control of the NCCo. Executive race. This is one case where the AFL-CIO endorsement helps. I think that, in part, it reflects dissatisfaction amongst county employees who swallowed a 2.5% pay cut while Paul Clark was adding on an army of 'executive assistants', at least one of whom also acts as his chief fundraiser while deciding which projects move forward and which ones don't.