Your daily jolt: Republicans absorb Tuesday’s lessons
The message from last night: The dynamics of Georgia politics haven’t changed much in four years. Republican Mitt Romney on Tuesday won this state (53.4 percent) by nearly the same margin as John McCain (52 percent) in 2008.
Here’s the county-by-county map of last night’s returns.
In fact, with the exception of D.C.-infected Virginia, Republicans won every state in the Old Confederacy, and a few border concerns besides. But 206 electoral votes won’t win you a presidency. Elsewhere, the GOP clearly needs to recalculate its audience and its message.
Republicans had bet the demographic changes measured in countless surveys and the 2010 census wouldn’t show up at the polls. They were wrong. The quick and simple from the Associated Press:
In exit polling Tuesday, voters mirrored the voting public’s makeup of four years ago, when Obama shattered minority voting barriers and drove young voters to the polls unlike any candidate in generations.
White voters made up 72 percent of the electorate — less than four years ago — while black voters remained at 13 percent and Hispanics increased from 9 percent to 10 percent.
That flew in the face of GOP assumptions that the fierce economic headwinds of the past three years and the passing of the novelty of the first African-American president would trim Obama’s support from black voters, perhaps enough to make the difference in a close election.
However, Obama carried Virginia, the heart of the old South, in part by having increased his record support from black voters there in 2008, which reached 18 percent, to more than 20 percent, according to Obama campaign internal tracking polls.
On CNN this morning, former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich simply said “I was wrong” when he predicted a 53 percent victory margin for Romney:
Said Gingrich:
“We all thought that we understood the historical pattern and the fact that, with this level of unemployment, with this level of gasoline pricing, what would happen….The country was looking at a different set of things than we were looking at.”
The miscalculations and misstatements – both Todd Akin in Missouri and Richard Mourdock in Indiana lost their Republicans campaigns – cost the GOP control of the U.S. Senate. Again, from AP:
In a somber statement, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Republicans “have a period of reflection and recalibration ahead.” He added that, “While some will want to blame one wing of the party over the other, the reality is candidates from all corners of our GOP lost tonight.”
Some will declare that Republicans were beaten because they weren’t conservative enough. A message from Jenny Beth Martin, the Cherokee County woman who heads up Tea Party Patriots, arrived just before midnight. It included this:
What we got was a weak moderate candidate, hand-picked by the Beltway elites and country-club establishment wing of the Republican Party. The Presidential loss is unequivocally on them….
We cannot change what the Republican establishment handed us tonight. We can stop Barack Obama from fundamentally changing the future and character of this nation. We can stop the mushy-middle, non-fighters in the GOP from rolling over and getting rolled, yet again by the Left.
Or you can simply move on. This voice mail from Republican Joe McCutchen, who lived and breathed Mitt Romney for 18 months, arrived this morning:
”I’m sorry about Mitt, but I’ve already gone to work on the next two-year election. I’m happy about my nephew Hunter winning. We’re going to take over the Senate in 2014. I’ve already started to work on the next election.”
***
In the passage of Amendment One the charter school measure, five counties in metro Atlanta provided 62 percent of the 625,133 margin of victory:
– DeKalb: Yes, by 81,784 votes;
– Cobb: Yes, by 83,204 votes;
– Gwinnett: Yes, by 74,626 votes;
– Fulton: Yes, by 111,733 votes;
– Clayton: Yes, by 39,503.
We’ve received one estimate that the charter school measure won approximately 65 percent of the African-American vote in DeKalb, 64 percent in Fulton, and 72 percent in Clayton. This despite concerted opposition from the likes of the Rev. Joe Lowery; state Sen. Emanuel Jones of Decatur, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus; and state Sen. Vincent Fort of Atlanta.
This was the result that TSPLOST supporters wanted, but couldn’t get. Here’s a link to the county-by-county map of the returns.
***
A review of other Georgia contests worth noting this morning:
– Both Republican incumbents on the state Public Service Commission won re-election. Chuck Eaton (52 percent) beat Stephen Openheimer (43 percent), with Libertarian Brad Ploeger taking 5 percent. Notice that the results roughly mirrored the presidential contest.
Stan Wise (66 percent) beat David Staples, who ended the evening as the state’s most popular Libertarian, with 34 percent – or more than 1 million votes.
– Democratic incumbent John Barrow finished off Lee Anderson with 54 percent in the 12th District congressional race.
***
Republican challenger Hunter Hill beat Democratic incumbent Doug Stoner in the race for District 6 state Senate seat. But Republicans will have to wait for a runoff and special general election contest in District 30 before they can claim a supermajority in the Senate.
State Rep. Bill Hembree, R-Winston, narrowly missed (48 percent) winning outright, and will face Republican Mike Dugan (24 percent) in December. The winner must still face an independent in January. Former House speaker Glenn Richardson finished third (15 percent) in the District 30 contest.
So the count in the Senate is 37 Republicans, 18 Democrats, and one race yet to be decided.
Members of the new Republican Senate caucus will meet next week in south Georgia at Little Ocmulgee State Park to pick a new leadership team. Do not overlook the fact that, at one GOP celebration last night, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle was introduced by state Sen. David Shafer, R-Duluth, who is likely to be elected Senate president pro tem.
***
Democrats this morning claim they have blocked a GOP supermajority in the state House, keeping Republicans to 119 seats of 180. Among those races:
– In House District 12, Democratic incumbent Barbara Reece of Menlo lost to Republican Eddie Lumsden (51 percent).
– In House District 16: Republican Trey Kelley trounced (69 percent) Democratic incumbent Rick Crawford of Cedartown, who had promised to switch to the GOP if re-elected.
– In House District 81, Democratic incumbent Scott Holcomb defeated (56 percent) Republican Chris Boedeker.
– In House District 96: Democratic incumbent Pedro Marin survived (55 percent) a GOP challenge from Mark Williams, who was hospitalized during a portion of the campaign.
– In House District 105: Republican Joyce Chandler of Lawrenceville defeated (51 percent) Democrat Renita Hamilton for an open seat.
– In House District 138: Republican Mike Cheokas of Americus barely survived (50.64 percent) a Democratic challenge from Kevin Brown.
– In House District 145: Independent incumbent Rusty Kidd (54 percent) defeated Democrat Quentin Howell. Despite their effort to knock him off, Democrats say Kidd’s presence in the House– plus their 60 members — deprives the GOP of supermajority status.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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335 comments Add your comment
PM
November 7th, 2012
6:41 pm
@rider said the same thing I saw: the Republican victory camp was all-white last night (and NOT having a good time), while the Democratic version of the same thing was a blur of every kind of person and dancing and music and people having fun. It reminded me of those class-oriented movies from the 80s where the rich folks had their boring dull party with people standing around having no fun, while the poor kids and everybody else would invariably have a band, booze, and an actual party going on. Clearly winning had something to do with this but the point is clear that you cannot narrow your appeal to one group and expect to have the support of all.
By the way, this same problem is affecting Israel as well. The Palestinians aren’t winning on the war front. But they are winning in the bedrooms. The generational slide is going to hit Israel in the next 20 years when vast numbers of Palestinian Israelis achieve voting age, and the same thing will happen in the US in a generation or two.
There IS no way to stop it unless white republicans put their money where their mouth is and put their republican wives back in the bedrooms giving up any ideas about work-family balance. No. If you expect to retain power, you will have to focus on making more republicans and drop the ideas about working for a living. You want a return to family values? Prepare to sacrifice. And understand it will take 20 years and you may still lose. Good luck.
Don Abernethy
November 7th, 2012
6:41 pm
I will no longer watch any of the local liberal tv news and the national news on ABC,NBC,CBS,CNN. I really don’t care what happens to our country now and I can delight in watching our country fall apart under the Obama administration. Hope all the Democrats enjoy the misery that is coming.
Voter
November 7th, 2012
6:41 pm
@Ron Paul for Life – you miss the point about raising taxes on the rich. You could tax ALL the wealthy 60% and it would not match up to what the white house and this obama administration is spending.
Voter
November 7th, 2012
6:46 pm
@Don Abernathy – I feel your pain but hang in there. I agree the main media is very biased and helped hussein obama in these past 2 election. FoxNews is good and impartial. Copy the below URL at the top of your Internet screen and read. Good stuff.
http://www.ijreview.com/2012/11/21625-obama-made-the-bed-now-he-must-lay-in-it/
Hilarious
November 7th, 2012
7:23 pm
Hey Don,
Nice patriotism.
It’s true what they say. Patriotism is the last refuge for a scoundrel, and now you’re left without a refuge, or any patriotism.
Love it or leave it, pal.
So, GET OUT.
Bye!
Auntie Christ
November 7th, 2012
7:46 pm
Don Abernethy
November 7th, 2012
6:41 pm
Hope all the Democrats enjoy the misery that is coming.
***********************************************
I don’t know about that, but I do know I’m enjoying beyond my wildest dreams the misery you and your wing nut cohorts have experienced the last 20 hours. I love seeing haters squirm, and cry and whine and vent their delusional rantings. Today has been real a laugh fest!!
Voter
November 7th, 2012
7:46 pm
And one more thing. I keep reading “Republicans should change this and change that to get elected.” Where are you from? Real people of faith and moral and ethics don’t change their beliefs just to get votes and elected. That’s the democrat/hussein obama way. Tell them what they want to hear, promise them real change, let’s keeping moving forward. Hear that before? Real Republicans and some Democrats will hold and fight for what they believe in. They are not going to lie and cowtail to the pro-choice, or pro-gay or pro-welfare crowd just to win votes. What kind of household were you raised in?
cc
November 7th, 2012
7:48 pm
“While the Democratic version of the same thing was a blur of every kind of person and dancing and music and people having fun”
Nero fiddled while Rome burned . . .
Auntie Christ
November 7th, 2012
8:00 pm
Voter
November 7th, 2012
7:46 pm
Real Republicans and some Democrats will hold and fight for what they believe in. They are not going to lie and cowtail to the pro-choice, or pro-gay or pro-welfare crowd just to win votes.
****************************************
Great advice voter, the 18th century was a real hoot You probably wouldn’t like it here in the 21st Century. Gays are achieving full citizenship,, rape is condemned rather than parsed as legitimate or illegitimate, women have jobs outside the home and demand equal pay and health care is no longer reserved for just the well off.
creaative
November 7th, 2012
8:30 pm
glad nobody read or responded to my post. OK so here goes all you rednecks, blacks, rich, welfare queens, mexican, obama lovers, and neo cons can all go get f@@@ed as henry rollins would say. You all suck. Hail satan. Kill me. Evan and Evan who. I hate you both. I wish you would both die in a duel. How’s that guys???
Annie
November 7th, 2012
9:39 pm
I think that most people realize that we have a government that is based on checks and balances. Nothing will get done unless the President and Congress work together. The President tried to do some things that MAY have helped the economy, but he was blocked by Congress. Unfortunately, they probably stood in his way because they thought that blocking him would result in him losing his re-election bid. Hopefully the Republicans in congress realize that the public will blame them too, if the the economy doesn’t improve, and they could face losing their seats. Unfortunately, people like Bill O’Reilly, Hanity, and Carl Rove are going to try and convince these Representatives that if they work with the President, even if the result is the economy getting stronger, that the end result will be them losing their seats to Democrats.
And people, the President doesn’t have anything to do with gas prices.
A Ghast
November 7th, 2012
10:29 pm
You just gotta hand it to the idiots now running the Democratic Party in Georgia – run against Rusty Kidd?! Really??! If there’s nobody in the party who knew that was a seriously bad move allowing that guy to qualify, then they are worse off than I thought.
For the sake of Georgia, let’s hope Rusty enjoys being THE swing vote, our State House’s very own Ohio. Just imagine the power of that position to him personally, and how much he can protect everybody in the state if necessary.
Big Hat
November 7th, 2012
10:31 pm
Republicans WILL NOT absorb Tuesday’s lessons but will turn further to the right, conduct a “Night of the Long Knives” purge of any member who isn’t completely borderline-psychotic blackshirt extremist. Never underestimate the right-wing’s capacity to commit murder-suicide, just because they can.
tell the truth
November 7th, 2012
11:10 pm
The GOP- hypocrisy, hate and fear peddled daily by right wing radio and faux news and eaten up by millions of ignorant, southern, racists who hide behind the veneer of being a “good conservative”.
The election results could not have happened to a more deserving bunch of loonies.
tell the truth
November 7th, 2012
11:15 pm
Don Abernethy How old are you- fifteen??? Gonna take your ball and go home now??? Waaaaa waaaahhh waahhh. Love to whine do ya?
Proud Republican
November 7th, 2012
11:17 pm
Hilarious, all because people support the Republican party and Republican candidates doesnt make them racist or bigots, this is the exact reason why Democrats are so stupid and cant run on any issues, they resort to name calling. The math is simple, you cannot keep spending and spending and borrowing and stay financially healthly, but you just want your hand outs and expect other people to pay for your goodies.
Your inability to think for yourself or making your own decisions, shows how weak minded Democrats are, you dont stand for anything.
Most Republicans are hard working people, they pay their taxes, are active in their communites, and contribute a great deal to this country. Your ignorace in comparing them to storm troopers and extermists is so childish. Grow up
David
November 8th, 2012
12:08 am
To jenny beth martin of the tea party patriots…. ‘America’s demographic is changing. The old south is gone forever, and it aint comming back. America spoke very loud and clear last night. You better get on board the train with the rest of us, or get your a$$ left behind! In the famous words of Chuck D from the rap group Public Enemy: “It takes a nation of millions to
hold us back”! You can’t stop the bumrush….!
Hilarious
November 8th, 2012
12:42 am
Proud Republican:
Take a minute. Re-read what you wrote. Ask yourself why you have that particular criticism about Democrats.
Which US President was in charge from 1981-1989, who TRIPLED the NATIONAL DEBT in that 8 year period?
Which US President was in charge from 1993-2001, who STARTED TO PAY DOWN THE NATIONAL DEBT in that 8 year period?
Which political party had TOTAL GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL from 2001-2007, and was in control when the ECONOMY CRASHED AND BURNED just a few years ago?
Stop listening to Rush Limbaugh. He makes millions of dollars a year off BS’ing people like you, and spends it on mansions, pharmaceutical drugs, and sex tourism.
Democrats have claimed the mantle of the 1970’s era Republican party of Fiscal Responsibility and compromise.
The Republican Party of the 1990s-Present has decided to run on paranoia, fear, and hatred.
You’re supporting fascists. Stop it.
Please.
Voter
November 8th, 2012
12:45 am
@David – America did not speak loud and clear. Check again, it was virtually a 50/50 split. That’s not good.
Voter
November 8th, 2012
12:49 am
@Hilarious – If you check again you will see why Clinton did so well was because of the policies in place by Reagan and Bush. He just rode the coat tails while getting some tail himself. It didn’t crash and burn and W didn’t have high gas prices, high unemployment or even higher welfare people. Gas was under $2 back in 2007. We are above $16 trillion for one reason and one reason only. no budget and no limit government spending.
Voter
November 8th, 2012
12:56 am
@Hilarious – “The Republican Party of the 1990s-Present has decided to run on paranoia, fear, and hatred.” That, by the way, was exactly what the Democrats ran on. Hope, Change, Forward. Hate ads towards Romney, his wife, Ryan. More negative ads were run by obama than any before him. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Wake up and smell what your shoveling.
Buckhead Boy
November 8th, 2012
4:10 am
Voter, I am confident that those Intraders who just lost > $25 million betting on various Republicans will be much comforted by your analysis of the election results. However, in concluding that 303 – 330 electoral votes to 203, 60.7 million to 57.8 million raw votes, picking-up 2 Senate seats while defending 21-10, and picking-up House seats was “virtually a 50/50 split”, did you factor-in that the last Republican President was elected by one vote on the Supreme Court and re-elected by one congressional district in Ohio? Anyway, I hope that you will soon bring your powers of deduction to Intrade, as taking the money of those who live in an alternate reality has become a profitable hobby for me.
crankee-yankee
November 8th, 2012
6:21 am
Voter
November 8th, 2012
12:49 am
And what was decided behind closed doors between Cheney & the oil executives back in 2001?
We’ll probably never know but my guess is a deal was struck to keep prices down to help with reelection. Once Obama won in 2008, the deal lapsed. How soon did prices skyrocket? Call me paranoid, but there is a word that describes paranoid people.
Perceptive.
Les
November 8th, 2012
8:37 am
The Republicans will go a long way toward being able to capture the Executive Branch if they stop letting Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity set their agenda and establish their platform.
Voter
November 8th, 2012
10:33 am
@Buckhead Boy – Let’s see how well you take others people money in the next couple of years. I’m sure you think obamacare is profitable too.
Voter
November 8th, 2012
10:37 am
@crankee-yankee – I have no idea what was done behind closed doors, and I figure you don’t either. So it goes without saying whether there was a deal or not to lapse is speculative but what is not speculative is unemployment,(Closed door also?), more people on welfare,aka food stamps and government assisted living. (Another closed door deal?) When does the blame end? hussein obama has had four years to help and all we are headed for is socialism and U.N. control. Better wake up
mayfield
November 8th, 2012
11:02 am
@Voter- Just face it. We Republicans basically represent one main demographic, white America. And, that won’t ever be enough to win major elections again in our country. I trust that you are not one, but it should be clear to all that the racists, bigots and haters have infiltrated our ranks, and it has cost us major elections. Denial does not help. It’s time to genuinely accept the foundational principles of our country, freedom, diversity, inclusion, civil rights, and inclusion. To argue that Obama is the problem is really pointless now. The real problem is us.
garyc
November 8th, 2012
12:20 pm
@Roberto dl R You don’t have slightest idea what your talking about,all you are doing is blowing alot of smoke out your pie hole.You are probably one of those illegal immigrants that is here illegally.Hoping that Obama will take care of you so you don’t have to work like all your other buddies,because you know that Obama will take care of your type.Obama is nothing more than a big spender on our economy who has nothing to show for it,but a big DEBT.
garyc
November 8th, 2012
12:24 pm
Obama care is nothing more than healthcare that helps out people who dont want to work (like all obamas other brothers) and think we the tax payers should flip the bill
Voter
November 8th, 2012
1:12 pm
@mayfield – I’ll never face it! No, no. I’ll just throw myself down and hold my breath until they agree with us. lol
Anyway, yeah I understand but I do know there are Herman Cain’s and Allen West’s out there and many others who truly understand our Founding principles on which this once great Country was started. I’ll keep hoping and praying. It is fun though, to point out to the liberals how hypocritical they are. One thing that I do like is the fact that our Representatives for whom we vote are not afraid to take a stand for what they believe. While liberal/democrats will say anything to get a vote and get reelected. Hypocrites
Voter
November 8th, 2012
1:17 pm
@garyc – remember garyc, the so healthcare/obamacare wasn’t even read before they passed the bill. Why do you believe it’s just regular healthcare? Who do you think pays for it? If you have a job with benefits, watch you medical deduction carefully over the next couple of years. Then watch what you will be co-paying for what you receive. Employers will pass the cost to you. Then when employers/employees don’t pay, they will be fined by the IRS. Watch how the collections start then. Know what you are talking about before you vent. Read some of the obamacare bill. Wake up!
Voter
November 8th, 2012
1:19 pm
@garyc – Sorry, I meant Roberto dl R. Sorry Gary. Last post wrong name
Voter
November 8th, 2012
1:31 pm
@Democrat/Liberals – and some proof again for you why dems/libs will say anything to get your vote but never follow through. Case in Point – Hurricane Sandy,hussein obama goes and visits and says and I quote ” We’re going to cut though red tape. We’re not going to get bogged down with a lot of rules” Chris Matthews from MSNBC – “So glad we had that storm” Ask the people in the northeast who voted for hussein obama because he looked so presidential, he cares, FEMA will save us, how they feel now? FEMA has left, volunteers were rejected in NJ. Now all the people have are themselves, true heros who are helping each other. Election over, back to usual
Voter
November 8th, 2012
1:35 pm
I also remember how some in the black community and even hussein obama say that Katrina help was nonexistent because these were mainly black communities and the white man won’t help. Well, what do you say now for Sandy victims? The problem is government and incompetent leadership. And guess who you just voted back in? Idiots!
Proud Republican
November 8th, 2012
2:31 pm
Fiscal responsible Party? Look in the mirror! The Democrats and Obama had control of the entire government for 2 years and couldn’t pass ONE single budget. The Senate, controlled by the Democrats since 2006, hasnt passed a budget in 4 years. Obama has spent $5 trillion dollars in new spending for what? 8% unemployment, millions STILL unemployed, the national debt (which he said he was going to cut in half by the end of his first term) is going more everyday. You dont have the mantle to discuss being the fiscal responsible party.
Stop supporting communists and listening to Chris Matthews and try to do some thinking for yourself!