Delaware Political Weekly: Sept. 8-14, 2012

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;

Delaware Political Weekly: July 28-August 3, 2012

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.

Delaware Political Weekly: July 21-27, 2012

So, I'm at the Townsend house, waiting to head on out to campaign. I decide to spend some time perusing Tony DeLuca's 'puppy piece'. I come across this line listed under the 'Dedicated' subheading:
(Tony DeLuca...) "Supported SEED and Inspire scholarships for Delaware students".
That's what it said. On a 3" by 9" (or so) palm card, Senator Tony DeLuca claims this as one of his key accomplishments. I got to thinking, waitaminnit, wasn't he the guy who tried to KILL the Inspire Scholarship Program? My memory not being the best, I decided to climb into the Notsowayback Machine.