I was as well, going back further than that, and in 1994 the check kiting issue was never even brought up. Fear of Clinton's socialized medicine and other programs was the catalyst.
79% of precincts reporting
Tester Dem 142082 50%
Burns Rep* 136403 48%
Jones Lib 7225 2%
5679.
Huh? Is was on CNN everyday. Even made the big three nightly news many times.
Much like what happened in OHIO tonight.
Hell in 94 the run up to the election I can remember on CNN the talking heads asking about how the Check Kiting would factor in on the election. Then whamo and the Dems got hammered and we herd quotes like "the voters threw a temper tantrum tonight."
And that is exactly what happened in Ohio. Twas well orchestrated too, do you think it was any coincidence at all that the trial on the Coin dealer whole stole the money was in session these last few days? All day long WTVN was giving updates on the story telling how Noe set out from day one to steal money, and then they would mention Taft, and then they would go straight into reporting the latest election polls and then they would have a local voter comment on how Blackwell just did not do enough.
The Dems learned well and took advantage of voter anger, as the Republicans did in 94. They offered an alternative with the contract. However that contract would not have stood out as well without the contrast of the Demos writing bad checks.
94 was almost a perfect storm. Right now we don't even have the makings of mild rain.
In fact if the Repubs and President Bush don't hold the line on Iraq, I fear we will get hammered even harder in 08.
I hope I am very wrong but I just do not see any gungho leaders in there right now like we had in Newt!