Posted on 11/04/2009 1:51:38 PM PST by freespirited
Those high-profile gubernatorial and congressional races in Virginia, New Jersey and New York got most of the headlines, but the genuinely revealing contests may well have been some of the down-ballot contests held in Maine, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
In Maine, a referendum to repeal the state's recently enacted gay marriage law won 52-48 percent. despite a massive outpouring of resources by gay rights groups. Gay marriage advocates spent an estimated $4 milion defending the law, while opponents reportedly spent about $2.5 million.
Turnout was higher than expected for an off-year election, according to Maine officials, and there were about 100,000 absentee ballots cast in the election, an indication of intense voter interest. Maine is the 31st state to vote on the marriage issue, and in every case, the traditional definition of a man and a woman has won majority support, though not always by decisive margins.
In Pennsylvania, partisan control of the state's highest court was up for grabs in the contest between Republican Joan Orie Melvin and Democrat Jack Panella. It was a heated battle, with Panella raising in excess of $2.3 million just through Oct. 19. Melvin had raised only $733,000 by that point, but still won 52-48 percent, according to Judgepedia.
The Pennsylvania contest could have big national implications because the GOP will now have a majority of the state supreme court, which will have a central role in the post-2010 redistricting process. Pennsylvania is one of only seven states that elect state supreme court justices.
Finally, in Atlanta's mayoral race, Mary Norwood, a Republican who ran with backing of conservatives and tea partiers, won 46 percent of the vote and is the leading candidate in a run-off next month against a candidate with President Obama's vocal backing. Since Atlanta voters gave Obama a 79 percent vote total in 2008, Norwood's victory could indicate dissatisfaction within the Democratic party, as well among those typically expected to oppose the president.
The really good news is the results were better than 11/93.
this is huge in terms of candidate recruitment and money and the rats are on a sinking ship.
And the only ones not seeing the pattern are Liberals like Nancy Pelosi.
Meanwhile in Hamtramck Michigan, more islamderthals took city council seats and now hold half of them. A muslim also narrowly lost the race for Mayor.
Norwood still faces a tough runoff battle, however.
I think if she got 46% of election day votes, while a tough battle, she should be in good shape to win it.
Atlanta’s Norwood isn’t a Republican. She is a liberal who voted for Zero.
bttt
LOL!!
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-atlanta-mayor3-2009nov03,0,837250.story
“Norwood responded with a TV ad saying she had voted for Obama, Sen. John F. Kerry, Al Gore, President Clinton and independent Ross Perot.”
For being a “Republican”, she sure likes voting for Democrats. She’s merely trying to be the “White” alternative to Black Power candidates, but I doubt she’ll be much of a change otherwise, little different than the White liberal Dems that ran Atlanta in the past (such as Ivan Allen or Sam Massell).
Good post!
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