Republicans Are In Serious Trouble.
If the special election in Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District is a sign of things to come, then the Republican Party is in serious trouble.
The Senate approved Republican Congressman Rob Portman as US trade representative in April, leaving Portman’s seat open for a special election. Portman had served 7 terms in the 2nd Congressional District of Ohio, in a heavily solid Republican stronghold. Portman had won each election, never winning less than 72% of the vote. In fact, the 2nd Congressional District of Ohio hasn’t sent a Democrat to Washington in the last 40 years, and in 2000 and 2004 went heavily for Bush.
That was nearly undone by Democrat Paul Hackett last week. Hackett, a Iraq War veteran, heavily criticized Bush’s handling of the Iraq War. He was attacked relentlessly by right-wing pundits like Rush Limbaugh, and his opponent Jean Schmidt spent $300,000 on an attack ad. Hackett only had $500,000 to campaign with, but still he kept hammering on Bush, saying his opponent would only be a “rubber stamp” to Bush’s war policy.
The result is that on election day, in an extremely strong Republican district, that had not sent a Democrat to Washington in 40 years, Paul Hackett was barely defeated by 4,000 votes. Schmidt was able the squeeze by with only 52% of the vote, and not all are convinced that the vote was won without some tampering.
This should serve as a wake up call, not to Republicans, but to Democrats. If the Democrats are to be successful in 2006, they must be on the attack, be unrelenting, and grill the Republicans non-stop for their mishandling of our nation’s affairs.
The Senate approved Republican Congressman Rob Portman as US trade representative in April, leaving Portman’s seat open for a special election. Portman had served 7 terms in the 2nd Congressional District of Ohio, in a heavily solid Republican stronghold. Portman had won each election, never winning less than 72% of the vote. In fact, the 2nd Congressional District of Ohio hasn’t sent a Democrat to Washington in the last 40 years, and in 2000 and 2004 went heavily for Bush.
That was nearly undone by Democrat Paul Hackett last week. Hackett, a Iraq War veteran, heavily criticized Bush’s handling of the Iraq War. He was attacked relentlessly by right-wing pundits like Rush Limbaugh, and his opponent Jean Schmidt spent $300,000 on an attack ad. Hackett only had $500,000 to campaign with, but still he kept hammering on Bush, saying his opponent would only be a “rubber stamp” to Bush’s war policy.
The result is that on election day, in an extremely strong Republican district, that had not sent a Democrat to Washington in 40 years, Paul Hackett was barely defeated by 4,000 votes. Schmidt was able the squeeze by with only 52% of the vote, and not all are convinced that the vote was won without some tampering.
This should serve as a wake up call, not to Republicans, but to Democrats. If the Democrats are to be successful in 2006, they must be on the attack, be unrelenting, and grill the Republicans non-stop for their mishandling of our nation’s affairs.
posted by Alva Goldbook at 12:55 AM
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