Delaware is a tiny state. 27,000 votes is a huge margin in Delaware.
There were about 197,000 votes cast for Coons/O’Donnell with Coons getting 174,000 of them giving him a win by almost 51,000 votes. You are correct that 27,000 votes is a big swing in that election.
Christine O’Donnell isn’t an unknown in Delaware. She ran for the Senate in 2006 losing in the GOP primary and then entered the General election as a write-in. She then ran again in 2008 with no primary opponent against Biden. Then in 2010 she won the GOP primary against Castle and then lost to Coons in the General. She should have some name recognition with the voters after that many times on the ballot for the same position.
She maybe more of an asset in future elections by finding ways to help other candidates with their campaigns and helping educate the voting public as opposed to being the candidate herself.
197,000
s/b
297,000