Once dismissed as a fringe kook, teabagger Christine O'Donnell has picked up a boatload of momentum and credibility in the wake of the shocking Alaska Republican Senate primary results. The Delaware Republican establishment is near panicked:
Republican leaders in Delaware describe their 2008 Senate nominee with open contempt, calling her a perennial candidate who runs for office instead of holding down a full-time job. She has had a tax lien filed against her, has been sued by Fairleigh Dickinson University for unpaid tuition, and the Federal Election Commission has cited her for failing to report campaign contributions.
“The difference between, say, Sharron Angle or Miller or Rand Paul, some of the other candidates that have pulled off surprise victories or shocked some people, is really, all those individuals had some kind of standing in the community prior to their election,” said Tom Ross, chairman of the Delaware Republican Party, predicting it would be an “absolute disaster” if O’Donnell somehow beat Castle.
“Do I think that at this point in her life she is a viable candidate for anything in the state of Delaware? I do not,” he continued. “There are probably 10 or 20 people who really believe what Christine is selling, and they’re the real victims here.”
Castle is certainly worried:
It looks like Rep. Mike Castle isn't taking his Tea Party Express-backed primary opponent lightly: The Republican has purchased $113K worth of airtime before the primary.
Castle is facing off against Christine O'Donnell on Sept. 14 in the GOP primary for Delaware's open Senate seat.
A Dem source that monitors media buys tells Hotline On Call that Castle has purchased $113K worth of airtime for Aug. 31 to Sept. 6 in the Salisbury, MD, media market. That market broadcasts into southern DE. Castle has also purchased $26K worth of time on cable in New Castle County and $42K on radio.
Meanwhile, Fox News is giving O'Donnell a boost:
This primary is in two weeks. If Castle wins, it's a favored GOP pickup. If O'Donnell wins, we'll hold the seat. This would be the biggest gift the teabaggers could give us this election season.