Olympia Snowe will not run for reelection

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This is a shocking turn of events. Senator Snowe, a supposed "moderate" Republican, was up for reelection this year, and she was facing her first primary challenge from the right in the form of Scott D’Amboise. Three Democrats were seeking the Democratic nomination: State Rep. Jon Hinck, state Sen. Cynthia Dill, former Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap and Portland home builder Ben Pollard. However, Maine's two Democratic Representatives, Rep. Michael Michaud and Rep. Chellie Pingree. Former Rep. Tom Allen could also get in the race now. But if Chellie Pingree runs, I think she wins easily, both the nomination and in the fall.

Wilmington Mayoral Debate — Public Safety Edition

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Last night, the two unions representing the Wilmington Police Department and the Wilmington Fire Department sponsored a Mayoral Debate held at the Chase Center. Candidates Kelley, Johnson, Montgomery, Williams, Spencer and Bovell (!) attended, and Senator Marshall sat this one out again. This one was not open to the public, which accounts for the kind of topics covered. Much of the night's focus was less on issues of public safety and alot more in union issues. Not much of a surprise, I guess, but there's something quite corrective in being in a room full of police and firefighters where citizen safety was a topic addressed by just a couple of the candidates.

Tuesday Open Thread [2.28.12]

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Remember to vote today in Red Clay. Santorum looks good in Ohio and Tennessee, which have contests next week, on March 6. Romney looks good in Vermont and South Dakota. Meanwhile, the President is cruising in Pennsylvania and Vermont against both Republicans and is shockingly competitive in Tennessee of all places.

Revisiting the Ad War

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As we embark on another primary day full of bitterness, anger and despair (hey, it's a Republican primary after all), let's check out some of the ads the various Republican campaigns and their associated Super PACs have been running. At the end, we have some ads from the good guys.

Michigan and Arizona Polling Wrap-Up: Santorum Bounces Back

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Today we have the Republican primaries in Arizona and Michigan. As I understand, Arizona is a closed primary for only registered Republicans, and Michigan is an open primary, which allows Republicans, Democrats and Independents to vote. Indeed, a la Rush Limbaugh in 2008, Markos Moulitsas of Daily Kos has launched Operation Hilarity, pushing for Democrats and liberals in Michigan to vote for Rick Santorum. Hell, even Rick Santorum is encouraging Democrats to stick it to Mitt and vote for him today.

Delaware Liberal Tracking Poll Results — Tom Wagner

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I must say, this one surprised me. But, I suppose Tom Wagner's staff have a lot of free time on their hands, and they use it to read DL constantly. How else can you explain a 47% strong approval rating? His overall approval rating is 55%, as 8% just merely approve of Tom Wagner's job performance as State Auditor, though not strongly. On the flip side, 34% strongly disapprove, while 9% just disapprove. 3% were undecided or unsure. At some time shortly in the future, I will rerun this poll again but I won't announce it, and we will see if we get different results. It is easy to freep one poll, but harder to do so consistently.

Red Clay Referendum Tomorrow

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Everything I've written has all been leading up to tomorrow's referendum. Info on where to vote can be found at The Friends of Red Clay (Red Clay's SuperPac?) referendum site. For those that want to catch up or review, click inside for links to my past posts. But an education post wouldn't be complete without linking to Kilroy's post "Red Clay's political bedfellows take a hand at pouring Kool-Aid - which points us to the News Journal's editorial by Fred C. Sears II, president and CEO of the Delaware Community Foundation and Karen L. Morris, managing partner of Morris and Morris LLC.

Delaware Liberal Tracking Poll Results — Chip Flowers

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Chip Flowers provokes strong opinions on both sides. 27% strongly disapprove of him. 24% strongly approve of him. Overall, Mr. Flowers has a 47% approval rating, and a 39% disapprove rating. 14% are undecided or are unsure. The primary between him and Velda Jones-Potter was acrimonious. And it looks like some are not able to give up those resentments. Because I can't think of anything Chip has done in his job to cause some ratings. Perhaps our commenters will enlighten me.