Almost 67,000 voted Republican in the district back in November 2010, more than enough to have put Huey over the top but they just didn't show up despite a month to cast their ballots.
I guess they didn't believe Hahn could be beaten either and it become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
A margin of only 9% is quite low given the registration advantage, name recognition, financial backing, union support, family dynasty, voting patterns and other factors all in Hahn's favor.
This was a good run for first-timer Craig Huey, lacking party support and name recognition, but a moral victory won't cast House votes.
The district has gone Dem 3 to 1, or better, in recent cycles.
Hahn *should* have blown Huey out of the water and didn't.
However, as an incumbent with Obama on the ballot in 2012, Hahn wins reelection easily unless there's a serious shift caused by redistricting.
From over 100 miles outside the district, I was skeptical because of the Hahn family juggernaut and getting no sense 'the GOP' believed outsider Huey could win.
They didn't pour money into a GOTV and left him to his own devices signalling a win was probably unlikely and local press were bored and playing games.
A single-digit margin for a local titan vs. a nobody should give Dems some concern but I don't expect admissions in the press. At the end of the day it's still a "win" for Dems and they'll spin accordingly.
I am disappointed. A win would've been a huge morale boost for us in CA. I'm more disappointed because my skepticism, leading me not to travel north for precinct walking, proved accurate.
The 9% margin is slightly better than I figured and about where the polls put him. The story is still Hahn's failure to blow him away. With Obama on the 2012 ballot and as an incumbent, she'll be reelected by greater margins.
I'm tired of my cynicism and skepticism being reinforced by reality.
I agree.
Almost 67,000 voted Republican in the district back in November 2010, more than enough to have put Huey over the top but they just didn't show up despite a month to cast their ballots.
Yep - a measly 20% turnout. :-(
This is not a rabid liberal district. I think Obama winning by such a wide margin was due more to the prune he ran against than Obama and his policies.