The calendar is just about to change from 2010 to 2011 - leaving behind one of the more memorable Delaware political years in recent history for an new year that is filled with unanswered questions and unresolved issues.
DFM News asked a handful of political observers to reflect on the political year gone by and what they’ll be looking for in 2011. They weigh in with their thoughts, submitted via email, starting today. The first topic: Delaware’s top political story of 2010.
[caption id="attachment_3635" align="alignnone" width="130" caption="Charlie Copeland"]https://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/copeland.jpg[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_3635" align="alignnone" width="130" caption="Chuck Durante"]https://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/chuck_durante.jpg[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_3636" align="alignnone" width="130" caption="John Flaherty"]https://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/flaherty.jpg[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_3637" align="alignnone" width="130" caption="Michael Fleming"]https://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/fleming.jpg[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_3647" align="alignnone" width="130" caption="Prof. Sam Hoff"]https://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/hoff.jpg[/caption]
What was Delaware’s top political story in 2010?
"The top story in 2010 was the defeat of Mike Castle by Christine O'Donnell along with the rise of the Tea Party movement as a conservative political force.
Congressman Castle was first elected to office in 1966 and had never lost an election. Christine O'Donnell first ran for office in 2006 and had never won an election. Due to the extremely liberal policies of the United States Congress led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, many conservatively leaning Delawareans became afraid for the future of their Country. These voters felt that Congressman Castle did not take these fears seriously enough. So, they expressed their fears and concerns at the ballot box during the Republican primary.
Of course, following Christine O'Donnell's win, the strongly liberal nature of the New Castle County electorate dominated the election. Chris Coons won enough votes in New Castle County, alone, to defeat Christine O'Donnell, statewide (Coons -- 123,500 votes in New Castle County, O'Donnell -- 123,100 votes statewide). Almost two-thirds of Delaware's voters are in New Castle County, and Democrats out-register Republicans in New Castle County by a 2-1 margin. The Republican candidate was clearly too conservative for the average New Castle County voter, leading to her 17% defeat and the defeat of many "down ticket" Republicans."
—Charlie Copeland, former state senator and 2008 GOP candidate for Lt. Governor
"The capture of the Republican Senate and Congressional nominations by candidates opposed by party leadership, and outside the zone of Delaware’s long-standing political consensus, helped catapult the Democratic Party to striking gains. For the first time in 70 years, the State will have an all-Democratic Congressional delegation. Democratic control of the State House solidified, the State Senate remains securely Democratic (now with an upstate flavor), and Chip Flowers’ well-run campaign was rewarded with election to Treasurer over a long-time Republican state Senator, giving Democrats eight of the nine statewide offices."
—Chuck Durante, Attorney; Fmr. Parliamentarian, Delaware State Democratic Committee
“The top political story in 2010 was Christine O’Donnell’s stunning primary victory over incumbent Mike Castle for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination. In August, 2010, national political columnist David Broder came to Delaware to observe the dynamics of Delaware politics as it applied to the U.S. Senate race between Republican Mike Castle and Democrat Chris Coons. Broder wanted to know why their was such civility in the Delaware Senate race as compared to the incivility of other Senate races across the country. Broder considered the civility in the Delaware Senate race between Castle and Coons a model that other states could emulate.
However, he ignored Christine O’Donnell and the impact of the Tea Party here in Delaware on the Republican primary. Two days before the Republican primary, polls showed that Castle was losing the race to O’Donnell. On primary day the results of the poll were confirmed with an O’Donnell victory over Castle for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. O’Donnell was like a stealth candidate, flying under the political radar until Election Day when O’Donnell hit her target with a primary victory.
Although I oppose deeply most of what O’Donnell stands for, O’Donnell’s ability to mount this monumental political upset, in the face of intense media scrutiny and the ridicule of the political establishment is the top political story for 2010.”
—John Flaherty, Delaware Coalition for Open Government president
"Without question, no Delaware story came close to the intrigue, the import, and the far-reaching consequences of the deeply divisive and contentious debate over the issuance of additional parking permits in Bethany Beach… no? Well, maybe that was a close second. Of course, the race to complete the United States Senate term of Vice President Biden was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime drama that proves how unpredictable and gripping American politics can be. The campaign touched everyone and everything in Delaware and national politics – the emergence of the Tea Party, the Biden family, one of the state’s most popular and long-serving politicians, a controversial and outspoken candidate who raised record amounts and yet another county office-holder whose unlikely Senate bid turned out to have inspired timing. This remarkable story was front-page national news and its repercussions will resound in Delaware politics for years to come."
—Michael Fleming, New Castle County Republican Party chair
"For better and worse, the top political story in Delaware during 2010 was the emergence of Christine O’Donnell as the Republican nominee for the vacant U.S. Senate seat. For one, she defeated a nine-term House member who was attempting—and expecting—to be elected as Delaware’s junior senator. Second, she brought national press attention to the state in a manner not seen for many years. Third, her influence on Delaware and national politics is confirmed by the number of media references to her throughout the year."
—Sam Hoff, Delaware State University political science professor