Post date: Sep 15, 2010 11:17:20 AM
Tea Party supported candidate Christine O'Donnell wins the Republican primary election for the U.S. Senate in Delaware, Congressman Charlie Rangel, under investigation on ethics charges, wins his Democratic primary re-election in New York, while political newcomer Carl Paladino wins the Republican nomination in New York's gubernatorial race.
DOVER, DELAWARE, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 14, 2010) NBC - A conservative Tea Party favourite knocked off the establishment choice in Delaware's Republican Senate primary election on Tuesday (September 14), dealing a blow to the party's chances of recapturing the U.S. Senate in November.
Upstart Republican candidate Christine O'Donnell scored the biggest in a string of Tea Party upsets this year over nine-term Representative Michael Castle, a popular former governor who is considered to be one of the last Republican moderates in Congress.
"We worked hard to be here. I cannot thank you enough for that. Ladies and gentlemen, the people of Delaware have spoken. No more politics as usual," O'Donnell told supporters.
"We're in this to win, and we're in this to win big, and win big we did. Don't ever underestimate the power of 'we the people'," O'Donnell added.
The loss by Castle, who had been expected to cruise to victory in Delaware's November 2 election, gave Democrats new hope in the state and bolstered their chances of retaining control of the Senate.
National and state Republicans had rushed in recent weeks to help Castle, worried O'Donnell could not win the November race to take the Democratic Senate seat long held by Vice President Joe Biden.
In New York, U.S. Representative Charles Rangel of New York, a veteran of 40 years in the House, survived a Democratic primary challenge despite an ethics scandal. He awaits trial by his House colleagues on 13 alleged violations of House rules. Nevertheless, Rangel said he planned to return to Washington.
"I don't know how this will be misinterpreted, but I want you to know that no matter what they say, I go back to Washington stronger than I've ever been, and it has nothing to do with my personality. It has everything to do with you," Rangel told supporters.
The Tea Party movement won another high-profile race in New York, where political newcomer Carl Paladino easily beat the establishment choice, former U.S. Representative Rick Lazio, in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
"The people have spoken, and I'm here to thank you for choosing me as the Republican candidate for governor of New York," Paladino told supporters in Buffalo.
Paladino, who pledges to spend up to $10 million (USD) of his own money, will be a huge underdog in the November race against Democrat Andrew Cuomo.
Republicans are threatening to turn voter worries about the economy and President Barack Obama's leadership into big gains in November's general elections that could give them control of the House and perhaps even the Senate, once considered a longshot.
Republicans must pick up 10 Democratic seats to reclaim the Senate.
Democrats hope the Republicans' shift to the right, fueled by the Tea Party movement and the nomination of outsider candidates in Nevada, Kentucky, Colorado and elsewhere, will help them in November by alienating moderates and energizing Democrats in those crucial races. Polls show tight Senate races in all those states.