PA-12: Why Tim Burns Lost

C4P ^ | May 19, 2010 | Doug Brady

[Nonstatist]

I thought Russel lost.

[ConservativeMind]

My bad. This election was for both the special election and the primary for the fall.

I hadn’t realized that.

[BelegStrongbow]

You hit it right on the head and the fact you have to explain it is what makes Boortz’ campaign so quixotic. Think of this: did Critz have to run ads correcting himself? No? Then he got what he wanted and all he needed was some doubt in less-informed heads (not necessarily stupid ones, just ignorant). He got that and might well get it again in November.

Burns has got to run a better campaign or he may as well move and try somewhere else.

[Hildy]

Spin this anyway you want..I go back to what a resident of that district wrote on Monday:

Scott Brown and Tom Corbett headlined a rally in Washington, Pa.(my hometown) for Burns on Friday. It drew 75 people. Counting media, Burns volunteers, local cops and security for Corbett and Burns, the headcount was about 125.

Apparently, the support just wasn't there for Burns, for whatever reason. Hopefully he can work on his strategy in the coming months.

[all the best]

I stand by what I said. I am not criticizing Burns. Not at all. People are stupid. It is easy for them to grasp 23% sales tax. Harder for them to grasp the whole concept and its ramifications. Critz is a liar!? That never stopped anybody from winning elections.
Those commercials were devastating. Viewers had no idea of anything called the Fair Tax. Just a new tax.

[Eagles6]

Actually he missed a couple of important points.

Burns was appointed by the state check pants Repub committee to run in the special election rather than Col. Bill Russell, the Conservative Republican that ran against murtha in the last election.

Such was the animosity between state GOP Chairman Rob Gleason and Col. Russell that Gleason, a good buddy of murtha, refused to endorse Russell in his 2008 run against the incumbent.

Word on the street is that Burns was chosen as he had the finances to support his own campaign. These shenanigans raised a lot of ire in the Russell camp with, I would guess, probably a few staying home in disgust.

Also AFSCME and some others were running adds saying that Burns wanted to raise sales taxes to 23% (part of the Fair Tax) without telling voters anything about the rest of the plan.

Burns did little to counter this, running no adds that I saw to educate voters on his position.

[neverdem]

thanks nutmeg

[seekthetruth]

“Burns still has a shot in November, when the Indies come out to vote.”

Yes he will, and perhaps so will Bill Russell? :)

[firebrand]

Nathan, another big reason why this race was an anomaly and should not be considered a bellwether.

[Apple Blossom]

This is an interesting explanation...

[yield 2 the right]

I hope this is not a omen come Nov. for FR’s sake. Things can still go the Obama and Dems way this Nov.

[YankeeReb]

They held onto a district specifically carved out to keep John Murtha (D-Hell) in office. 2 to 1 Dim registration and heavily union. Add to that that the democrat had to run as a conservative and wanted no association whatsoever with the regime. Yeah that's something for Barry to hang his hat on.

More important, the KY race put a Tea Party favorite in over an establishment picked candidate in a landslide. If team Bam Bam is smart they'd be very concerned behind the scenes.

[YankeeReb]

Sad that we’ve entered an age where constructive ideas can’t be sold to voters if they don’t fit into a 30-second jingle.

True, even sadder that the same people scared of a Fair Tax will accept the lie that Barry's European VAT is the same thing and enthusiastically support 'The 0ne'

[Shethink13]

I knew burns was finished when I saw the first commercial saying that Burns advocated a 23% national sales tax on everything. Showed what people would pay for food and medicine. They kept running ‘em and it was all over. People must have thought he was nuts.

Exactly! And Burns NEVER countered that ad!

[Shethink13]

Not being there and seeing comercials and ads — did he run campaign ads that tried to promote a National Sales Tax as part of his campaign?

The SEIU ran deceiving ads claiming Burns supported a National Sales Tax of 23% on everything purchased. Talked about how much more everyday items (groceries, gas) would cost. Sneaky but effective, especially since Burns did nothing to counter the ads.