MAJOR DEMOCRATIC DAMAGE (Why the "Memorial Service" will cost Mondale the election)

RealClearPolitics.com ^ | October 30, 2002 | John McIntyre

[Timesink]

Wednesday October 30 2002
MAJOR DEMOCRATIC DAMAGE: "TV networks and radio stations have been bombarded with angry calls. The Democrats greatly overplayed their hand and violated the tradition of "Minnesota nice." The only two Democrats who seemed to instinctively realize how overboard they had gone were Gore and Daschle. It is also being talked about around the water coolers at businesses and schools, and people across the ideological spectrum did not like it. In all, it gives Norm Coleman a fresh start.

State GOP chair reported late last night that Coleman brought in over $150,000 last night alone from angry moderates and conservatives across the country. I was also informed that the phones continue to "ring off the hook" at Coleman headquarters" This from a reader of ours in Minnesota and we have gotten many more emails exactly like this one. With only five full days between now and the election Mondale may not be able to recover from this fiasco. The sympathy vote for Wellstone may have been completely incinerated in 3 1/2 hours last night. JM 5:14 pm

MORE MINNESOTA: "I feel used. I feel violated and duped over the fact that that turned into nothing more than a political rally. Like in the case of Senator Lott flying all the way up here and being booed when he is supposed to be going to a memorial service. I think the Democrats should hang their head in shame." Independent Governor Jesse Ventura

"What a complete, total, absolute sham. The DFL clearly intends to exploit Wellstone's memory totally, completely and shamelessly for political gain. To them, Wellstone's death, apparently, was just another campaign event." Fmr. Rep. Vin Weber (R)

Last night has turned into a disaster for the Democrats. Powerline has delved deeper into the Star Tribune's poll showing Mondale up 8 and has found out that the poll sampled 51% DFL/Democratic supporters and only 36% Republican or GOP leaning supporters, a total of 11% more Democrats than their previous Wellstone/Coleman poll.   JM 4:49 pm

MINNESOTA: My initial feeling that Coleman was going to be swamped by the sympathy vote for Wellstone is beginning to fade, and quickly. While it hasn't gotten huge play in the national media, the "memorial service" for the late Senator Wellstone and the other victims was so over the top, and distasteful, it has the real potential to backlash hard on the Democrats. Our friends at Powerline have been all over this story and they report that the "rally" is getting a lot of coverage in Minnesota.

"There is a lot of buzz this morning about the fact that television cameras showed Jesse Ventura and his wife, Terry, getting up and walking out on the Democrats' pep-fest at Williams Arena last night. I heard Ventura being interviewed on the radio this morning. He said that he found the Democrats' misuse for partisan ends not only of Wellstone's death, but of the families of the other victims of the crash, to be deeply offensive. He said that his wife was so shocked and offended by the Democrats' conduct that she was brought to tears, prompting their walkout."

When NPR and William Saletan at Slate also characterize the event as more a political pep rally rather than a memorial service it is clear it isn't just Republicans who think the Democrats went too far. Not to mention I don't take the recent poll from the Star Tribune showing Mondale up 8 as terrible news for Coleman. That poll of 47%-39% may very well be the high water mark for Mondale from here on out. It's reasonable to assume that the sympathy factor is going to be at its peak immediately following the tragedy. Furthermore a poll done by the NRSC, the same time as the Star's poll, had Mondale up only two points, with the Star Tribune's polls long time poll bias for Dems that puts Mondale up 5 points averaging the two polls. The clear politicization of Wellstone's death by the Democrats last night is not going to play well among the average Minnesotan and it will definitely serve to energize Coleman's base. Expect that five point gap to close.

The bottom line is I am close to doing a complete 180 on this race. I think the offensive nature of the "memorial service" last night has put this seat right back into play. And the trump card in Coleman's hand are all those absentee ballots that can not legally be counted for Mondale. This can very easily be a potential 2%-5% boost for Coleman and if he can get this race close in the polls, which I suspect now he will, that absentee difference will be enough to give him the win. The Dems lawsuit to get those Wellstone votes counted for Mondale shows just how seriously the Democrats think those absentee ballots might be.

If Coleman can run a positive, mistake-free, proactive campaign these next few days (and there's no reason to think he can't) these polls will close and this will be a nail-biter. With the absentee ballot edge I think Coleman now will win. But, hey, this is a very fluid situation and Coleman's got to close the poll numbers. I have to give credit to Hugh Hewitt and Ramesh Ponnuru who dismissed the conventional wisdom, including my own, that Coleman couldn't win. JM 1:02 pm       Comments

[aristeides]

I hope people also remember the look of utter elation on the faces of Bill and Hillary.

I think the elation was because they had succeeded in getting rid of Wellstone, and in a way that -- they thought -- would benefit them. Remember the Ron Brown funeral?

[Aracelis]

If any one deserves thanks for making it happen, its Bubba and Terry McAwful!

I'd lay most of this at Terry's feet, trying to save his bacon no doubt.

What a smarmy, ill-begotten bunch! I would love to see the true poll numbers that have caused the dems to panic.

[HamiltonJay]

Republicans need to keep the passion alive. The Rats have (again) shown their true colors. It is now the party of Clinton. May the "damage" be permanent...

Honestly, the republicans need to just sit back and say nothing about this fiasco "memorial"... not a one of them should open their mouths about it... everyone saw it for what it was, there is no need to go out indignant. Jesse's doing a great job, and he can't be tarred as being a partisan in this matter. I swear, if the republicans go out and open their mouths, other than direct and solemn answers to direct questions (not acting out of rage, or indignation) "IE.. I am truly saddened to see a great man like Wellstone and his career and memory cheapened..." When asked directly, and NOTHING MORE.. don't broach it don't ask for airtime to talk about, just play it quiet, give regards to his surviving family.

If the republicans snatch defeat from the jaws of victory out of sheer stupidity again, I'll scream... Let the talking heads deal with it, they are flambaying the DFL.. heck even the organizers of the thing have publicly admitted what it became... there is no way the Dems can put a good spin on this... let the press fry them for what they did.. let Jessie and the public flambe them... Republicans should just honor the man, and behave with a decorum the Dems obviously are incapable of doing.

[MamaB]

Hi Paul, I heard on either Rush's or Sean's show today that if the Dems lose in this election, McAuliffe is gone.

[Otta B Sleepin]

Interesting info about the poll especially....

Wasn't the Star Tribune 47-39 poll taken on Monday night?

[rwfromkansas]

I think so......before the memorial.

[CyberAnt]

Demand for equal time is true. Stations in MN reported being deluged with callers wanting equal time for repubs.

One station said this: Well, when the President makes his next visit to support Norm Coleman, we won't be so upset about the amount of time we spend covering the event (I'm paraphrasing). That can only help Norm.

[jackbill]

No. This is smart. When your opponent is stinking up the joint, the best thing you can do is act like your not that surprised but resist the temptation to "pile on". When the media acts mortified by something their liberal friends have done, you let that speak for itself.

I say again, BS. You don't have to rant and rave but when the media acts mortified you should just agree with them. You sure as hell don't want to let the media off of the hook by saying "Oh no, you are wrong. What they did was fine.". The media will be more than happy to have your blessing, and move on to something else.

Geeeeesh! No wonder we don't win a lot of elections.

[Paul Atreides]

I hate to even say this, but I need an anology that would fit what was shown last night: can you imagine if the Republicans held a tribute to Ronald Reagan and brought him out in a wheelchair and turned it into a three and a half hour campaign rally? I would be appalled. You would also hear a lot of grief from the dims.

I heard that caller on Rush. I heard his response, as well. He is correct. I hope the Bushes can help set a tone of integrity, as an example for the entire nation.

[Wondervixen]

>>To them, Wellstone's death, apparently, was just another campaign event.

After years of questionable "accidents" and suicides surrounding the Klinton Machine (Arkanicides), I rather think this "campaign event" was orchestrated well before Wellstone's untimely death.

The timing was all just too convenient.

[Paul Atreides]

Please let that be true!

[WillVoteForFood]

Hopefully, the Dems Clintonization of the deceased Paul Wellstone will cause them to get what they deserve. Take Real Clear with a grain of salt though (really any news source for that matter). During the Presidential election, their predictions were pretty optimistic, but turned out to be inaccurate. That's not to say they give bad info, but we can't let our guard down because someone who thinks like us sees things going well. Anybody remember Portrait of America polling. After the 2000 election, it plunged to oblivion, basically never to be heard from again, but we pumped it up pretty good here.

Good to share the info, but lets not lose our resolve and become overconfident because the news appears good. Our thinking should be that this war with the left will be ongoing long after this election and will need to be fought even more vigorously, whether we win the Senate and House or not.

[harpo11]

Take it to the streets Republicans and shout it out,
Down With Debauched Democrat Party
Fraud, Manipulation and Lies!
Don't Be A Useful Democrat Dupe
Isn't It Time To Give Them the Boot?
Vote Right!

[sweetliberty]

You know, I think it should be very telling that the party that is presumably so intent that nobody get offended in the slightest think nothing of deeply offending the decency and sensibilities of what I think are the majority of Americans, and then have the audacity to make light of the response and accuse people of over-reacting. The hypocrisy of these people knows no bounds.

[Prolifeconservative]

I wholeheartedly agree. You know I can see "the boys" in the back room with Wellstone's grief-stricken son and telling him, "c'mon sparky, wipe those tears away...what's with the puffy eyes...it's time to buck up son...go out there and show the crowd...say something like 'we will win' a bunch of times...they'll eat that up and you'll look marvelous....now let's go, conrol of the Senate is at stake."

[Libloather]

Death exploitation bump...

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Last night has turned into a disaster for the Democrats. Powerline has delved deeper into the Star Tribune's poll showing Mondale up 8 and has found out that the poll sampled 51% DFL/Democratic supporters and only 36% Republican or GOP leaning supporters, a total of 11% more Democrats than their previous Wellstone/Coleman poll.
JM 4:49 pm

So much for fair and unbiased polling. This is really good news.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

No, actually it might be a good idea for McAwful to stick around for 4 more years and take the party down even further!!!

[Libloather]

Bump...

[GOPJ]

Goodnight Gracie.