Posted on 05/17/2012 8:48:48 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
A Palin-backed underdog snatches the GOP Senate nomination from the favorite, and Mama Grizzly's endorsement may very well have put Fischer over the top...
The Republican establishment was reeling in Nebraska this week, after a little-known but respected state senator, Deb Fischer, pulled off a stunning upset in the GOP Senate primary. Fischer became the instant favorite in her red state over Democrat Bob Kerrey, a former senator and governor. Until just days before the Tuesday vote, Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning was expected to cruise to the GOP nomination, and his only apparent threat was from state Treasurer Don Stenberg, who was backed by conservative groups like Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund. But Fischer had something the others didn't... a late endorsement from Sarah Palin. Did that propel her to victory?
Yes. Palin put Fischer over the top: Voters are tired of "politics as usual," says Mike Flynn at Breitbart. Bruning and Stenberg are "standard conservative-ish career politicians." The establishment and even national Tea Party groups, which put their resources behind Stenberg, can't seem to grasp that. "Sarah Palin gets it," and her decision to shake up the race by making everyone take a look at Fischer "made all the difference."
"Palin effect: Fischer wins Nebraska primary"
Attack ads, not Palin, sank Bruning: By the time Palin made her endorsement, Fischer was already surging in polls, says David Catanese at Politico. Stenberg backers had chipped away at Bruning's favorability with attack ads while Fischer stayed "out of the mud." The real "dagger for Bruning" was a brutal $200,000 TV ad paid for by Chicago Cubs co-owner Joe Ricketts that spotlighted "Bruning's questionable financial interests and cast a cloud over his character" the weekend before the vote.
"Deb Fischer wins Nebraska Senate stunner"
Palin never had the golden touch — but she might now: Palin didn't have the golden touch before, says Rich Galen at The Daily Beast. She endorsed 33 winners and 31 losers in 2010, and by throwing her weight behind "two wholly unqualified candidates" — Sharron Angle in Nevada and Christine O'Donnell in Delaware — she helped Democrats keep the Senate. If she keeps picking winners like Fischer, a "legitimate, if not terribly well known, contender," she'll really become a GOP kingmaker.
"Sarah Palin's latest triumph? Deb Fischer wins Nebraska GOP primary"
Pssst! Just remember. The TEA Party is dead. Just let them keep thinking that. ssssshhhhhhhhhhh. Keep it under your hat.
Palin needs to get down to Texas and campaign for Cruz - NOW.
The important P word isn’t Palin, it’s Principal.
Excuse me. I meant Principle.
To give Sarah Palin the credit is an attempt to take it away from Deb Fischer. I high profile person can get you attention but once you get the attention you must have something to say.
I can hardly call getting a plurality of 41% "stunning." In other states that would put her into a runoff election for the nomination. This is exactly how Sharon Angle got the Republican nomination in NV in 2010. I think it's idiotic to win a primary nomination with anything less than 50% + 1 vote.
Sarah Palin’s endorsement brings cameras and free press to the candidates she endorses, as well as instant credibility with the conservative grass roots. While Palin isn’t solely responsible for Fischer’s victory, it was the spark that started the engine.
Just remember this: Mrs. Palin is great, and, not the cause of evil.....
Also, remember, Mrs. Fischer is great, and, not the cause of evil.
Finally, as you know, the left is so desperate to blame someone, that the left will stoop to the bottom of the barrel. Heck, just look at VP Biden and his most recent rants.
Take it from someone who WALKED the precincts for Deb....
One week before Sarah’s endorsement: Polite poker faces. There were lots of undecided and “soft” support for Bruning, Flynn and Stenberg.
One week after Sarah’s endorsement: Much more receptive! I got Facebooked, emailed and called by my Tea Party friends asking what they can do to help. Almost all stated that Palin’s endorsement “sealed the deal” for them. As though light switches got flipped, Palin’s endorsement felt like a massive “GO” command.
Yes, there where shifts in the polls for Deb, but Palin’s endorsement was like gas fumes hitting sparks. It opened up a lot of avenues and most likely kicked in Rickett’s money and Fortenberry’s endorsement.
Cain? His name didn’t enter the vocabulary with my contacts.
There were other factors involved, but Palin’s late nod was the nudge that started a snowball effect (IMO).
I saw it with my owns eyes folks.
Can’t wait until Palin and Todd start the bus!!!!
This was Palin’s endorsement record in 2010:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/palin_tracker/
33 out of 53 (62% success rate).
That's pretty impressive.
I can hardly call getting a plurality of 41% “stunning.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In Nebraska, for down-ticket races, it’s a plurality that wins. This was suppose to be a slam dunk for Bruning with his money, name recognition and ground game. While Bruning and Stenberg slammed it out with hit ads, Fischer quietly took her ground game and watched the top two bloody each other. Only in the very end (when Deb was surging) did Bruning mount any kind of attack ads on Fischer.
To show how much distance she made up consult RCP:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/senate/nebraska_senate_race.html
In early May, Bruning was up by 16 points. The pundits and press were already gearing up for a Bruning vs Kerry fight.
If the Democrats keep scraping the bottom the barrel, they’ll get splinters.
Yep.
Palin endorsed 33 winners of 64 overall? Well, that tells me two things:
1. Yes, Palin still has the magic. As in 2010, the beneficiaries of her endorsements rocketed up from nowhere in the polls after getting the nod from her.
2. Palin could`ve taken the safe and easy road, and endorsed GOP-e candidates who already had the inside track. But, true to her word .. she is on a mission to shake the government to the core, and — with a talent for political timing few possess — acted on that intent with endorsements at critical moments (ask SC Gov. Nikki Haley how valuable Sarah was to her campaign).
Some scoff at Sarah`s success record at little more than 50%. They ignore the fact that many of those endorsements went to erstwhile no-names with limited notoriety, campaign experience and resources, but who possess the strong conservative credentials she`s looking for. With those risks come the share of downers, but the wins are that much sweeter.
I`d bet Dick Morris would gladly take a 33-31 record.
Her critics don’t get it, backing someone who is third place then winning is not a sign of Palin picking someone who was going to win. Palin back long shot/underdogs
There is a lot Freepers who feel betrayed that she didn’t run. Considering the campaign Romeny put on, I really think she would have been the nominee.
I don’t think washington post calculated it correctly. You have to also include the primary wins into the calculation. They only show the candidates she backed winning the general
Make that there “are” a lot of Freepers. Geez, I need a second cup of coffee.
She endorsed 33 winners and 31 losers in 2010
Thats the wrong way to calculate it
its 33 general win + 33 primary win vs 20 general losses + 10 primary losses
66 total wins vs 30 losses
The article left out the 33 primary win yet included the 10 primary losses
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