Delaware Political Weekly: March 17-23, 2012

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I like this, I like this a lot. Ray Adkins (no, not Atkins, be still, your beating heart) of Seaford has filed for the 40th RD seat. The district is currently represented by Rep. Clifford G. 'Biff' Lee (R-Laurel), a, wait for it, retired state trooper who inherited the legislative seat from his father upon his death. The district has a nominal D registration edge, so it's not impossible that the right kind of Democrat, as defined by Sussex County voters, could win the seat. Adkins is a real estate agent, and it appears that portions of Seaford are new to the district, so this could be a sleeper race. What do our Sussex County spies think? Regardless, this is why candidate recruitment is so important, and also shows that Pete Schwartzkopf is damned good at it. I mean, does even Sussex County want to be represented by someone whose preferred name comes from a spelled-out Batman sound effect?

Delaware Liberal Tracking Poll Results — Karen Weldin Stewart (Round 2)

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Delaware's most unpopular politician, two months running. 64% strongly disapproved of KWS last month, and 64% strongly disapproved this month. Now that is consistent rejection. More shocking: 18% just regularly disapproved of her last month, and 18% disapprove of her this month. Still more shocking: 12% strongly approve of her this month, and 12% strongly approved of her last month. Yes, the poll figures are almost exactly the same. I checked it several times to be sure. Karen, that is a sign from God. Get out of this race now.

Delaware Liberal Tracking Poll Results — Lt. Gov. Matt Denn (Round 2)

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87 people voted in the last poll on Lt. Gov. Matt Denn exactly one month ago, and 88 people voted today. In that span, Denn's approval rating has dropped 8 points, from 73% to 65%. Now, I might be a little concerned if 1) the approval number of 73 wasn't astronomically high to begin with and 65 is still damn good and 2) this was a real scientific poll and not a non-random internet poll. Plus there is no rhyme or reason to the drop, since Governor Markell's approval rating over the same time period shot up even higher.

Santorum says he can take Delaware based on the O’Donnell Precedent.

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According to Santorum's camp, Mitt Romney is making the argument that the April states are "Northeastern states and therefore more moderate states and therefore more favorable toward a moderate candidate,” Santorum strategist John Brabender doesn't see it that way:
“However I would point to the primary elections in 2010 in almost all of those states. If you look at the primary elections in those states, famously so, conservatives beat more moderate candidates.” Santorum, Brabender said, could be just like O’Donnell.

Rep. Jaques Endorses Mitch Crane

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Representative Earl Jaques (D-27, Glasgow) endorsed Mitch Crane last night at his 27th RD Meeting. Jaques stated "I have worked with Mitch Crane since I was first elected in 2008. He is exactly who we need to put consumers first at the Department of Insurance. If he were Commissioner today, we would not be seeing Blue Cross taken over by Highmark of Pennsylvania."

The Carper Break Up Letter

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Thinking about Carper reminded me of this letter from the time he was working to undermine the President's Health Care Reform. After this post, I'll shut up about Carper, because my blogging colleagues don't like it and I respect their opinions. Also, have no desire to turn into some kind of obsessed crazy person on this topic.

The Rose Izzo Campaign wrote us to remind us that there is a Rose Izzo Campaign

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As you can see in the middle column, I have removed the outdated and lengthy list of state blogs from around the country and replaced it with a list of statewide candidates with links to their campaign websites. I hope to include links to General Assembly races as well, and also to NCCo Exec and Council President races. Well, in putting up the list over the weekend, I neglected to include Rose Izzo, who is also running for the Republican nomination to run against John Carney. My apologies. She is now listed. So, now the question is, can Rose Izzo recapture the witch's brew that was the 2010 election in Delaware?