WH Reacts to Last Night's Votes

[Clio the Leo]

David Axelrod, in a telephone interview just after Specter fell: “For us, the most important race was the only general-election race on the ballot, which was the special in Pennsylvania. When Murtha passed away, the Republican Party was very bullish on winning that seat. The Democrat won by more than a few points there. So the conventional wisdom about this year is suspect. If you have a Democratic candidate who runs a good, strong race, they can win -- and they can win in a challenging district.”

--Axe, on Rand Paul: “The Republican Party became narrower still tonight. … The Republican Party further defined itself.”

--Axe, on Specter: “We appreciate the courageous votes he cast in the last year and a half. And on that basis, we gave him our support and our help. But everyone understood that was going to be a tough race.”

--Axe, on November: “This was an encouraging sign tonight, but I have no illusions. We are the party in power in a time of great economic upheaval. But I’m encouraged by what I saw tonight. We are prepared for battle. We’ll grind it out, district by district, race by race. We have a good story to tell.”

ROBERT GIBBS e-mails: “PA 12 a big win … This is the type of race GOP has to win.”

and

Jonathan Martin and Charles Mahtesian: “All the evidence pointing to monster Republican House gains this fall -- the Scott Brown upset win in Massachusetts, the scary polling numbers in once-safely Democratic districts, the ever-rising number of Democratic seats thought to be in jeopardy -- was contradicted Tuesday. In the only House race that really mattered to both parties -- the special election to replace the late Democratic Rep. John Murtha in Pennsylvania’s 12th District -- Republicans failed spectacularly, losing on a level playing field where, in this favorable environment, they should have run roughshod over the opposition. …

“he outcome casts serious doubt on the idea that the Democratic House majority is in jeopardy … Next comes Saturday’s House special election in Hawaii. … wo Democrats are poised to split the party vote in the heavily Democratic 1st District, which would enable Republican Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou to win with a plurality. Winning the seat would help deflect attention from Tuesday’s loss. But the unique circumstances of the Hawaii race mean a GOP victory there won’t be nearly as meaningful as it would have been in Pennsylvania.”

all from...

http://www.politico.com/playbook/

[Cha]

1. David Axelrod..looking at the

reality and the big picture of the situation.

That race in Hawai'i bothers me..I hope Colleen Hanabusa pulls it off!

[monmouth]

4. Axelrod spoke the words Tim Kaine should have said. Where

is he anyway? Is he still around? We need Dean back in that spot badly..

[Cha]

5. I did find this..

<snip>

"Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine painted the Kentucky race as a victory for “the far-right Republican segment of the electorate,” calling Paul a nominee “whose ideas are outside of the political mainstream.”

<snip>

"Though the White House and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee strongly backed Specter in the Pennsylvania primary fight, the DSCC quickly released a statement responding warmly to Sestak's victory.

"Joe Sestak has a compelling life story and a powerful message of change. He knows what is wrong with Washington and, if elected to the Senate, will shake up how business is done in the Capitol," DSCC Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37414.html

And, this..

"“Pennsylvania voters had a choice between Congressman Joe Sestak and Senator Arlen Specter. Congressman Sestak and Senator Specter both campaigned tirelessly across the Keystone State in support of President Obama’s efforts to help middle-class Americans. I congratulate them both on a hard-fought campaign. This race came down to the wire, but ultimately Democratic voters in Pennsylvania have decided that Congressman Sestak is the best man to fight for them in Washington.

“As the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to Congress, Joe Sestak has served our country with honor. In the Senate, as he has done in the House of Representatives, Joe Sestak will stand up for the needs of Pennsylvania workers and families.

“Come November, the choice for Pennsylvanians could not be clearer: Congressman Sestak, who has fought for middle-class Americans; or ultra-conservative Republican Pat Toomey, a former Wall Street derivatives trader who would represent instead the powerful special interests funding his campaign and who during his brief tenure in Congress had a right wing voting record that would make Rick Santorum look like a moderate. While Joe Sestak has been working with President Obama to turn Pennsylvania and our country around, Pat Toomey would have sacrificed that progress to the politics of obstruction practiced by Washington Republicans by opposing the Recovery Act, Health Reform, Student Loan Reform and Wall Street Reform.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Senator Specter for his decades of service to the people of Pennsylvania and the nation and for his work this past year with President Obama and Senate Democrats to put America on the road to recovery. Senator Specter has had a distinguished career and we look forward to continuing to work with him in the months ahead as we continue to move our country forward.”

http://www.democrats.org/a/2010/05/dnc_chairman_ti_57.php

[monmouth]

6. Thanks for posting that. I didn't look hard enough...n/t

[Cha]

7. I'm glad you made

me look! :) I was curious too.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. The Associated Press is busy poisoning Obama today!

I think that the Associated Press should be shut down.

[Kdillard]

3. Tell me about it.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. Should be called the TPP the Tea Party Press not the Associated Press

[NJmaverick]

9. K & R!