Reader Elmer sends the front-page [pdf] (and jump [pdf]) Corning Leader (AP) story on the 29th race. Here's an interesting quote:
Besides [Kuhl] said, Massa will have to shoulder public frustration with the inaction and "Democratically controlled nonsense" in Congress since Democrats gained the advantage in the House in 2006. "My opponent's a Nancy Pelosi clone!" he hollered.
Exile at The Albany Project has a fascinating display of every piece of mail sent by Randy Kuhl, showing why Randy holds the record for mailing costs in the last year.
The Star-Gazette has a candidate Q&A this morning.
Comments
I think its only fair Kuhl goes after Massa using Pelosi as an example. Massa says three angry things in his debates: "Navy Commander, Quarterback, and Bush"
Add a few weird convulsions and eyebrow raisings and you have the whole picture.
Fair or unfair, the whole Pelosi outrage discussion is an issue solely for the Republican base. Kuhl does need to motivate that base, but blank + Democratic registration outnumbers Republican in the 29th, and I don't see how independent (blank) voters are moved by fear of Nancy Pelosi.
Indeed, no one has ever suggested that it's not fair. I just don't think it's a good political tactic.
Being a blank voter does not mean one does not lean to the left or right. Thus, bringing up Pelosi (or Bush) could matter to many of them.
Thus, bringing up Pelosi (or Bush) could matter to many of them.
I think Bush and Cheney might matter to them. Pelosi only matters to the kooks who are emailing each other about Obama being a Muslim.
I don't think Hastert or Boehner or McConnell or Frist ever mattered to anyone either. I'm not even sure Newt Gingrich did. It's very rare for a member of Congress to rise to that level...unless they're indicted (so I will allow that DeLay did).
Gingrich was demonized by the left, it is a normal political tactic.
I'm not sure it worked that well, though.
In the end, Newt shot himself in the foot with impeachment. That's what did him in -- not Democratic attempts at demonization.
Blanks are by definition non-partisan. Making Pelosi the devil might work if you expend a lot of time and effort on it, but really why should the average non-partisan voter care which Democrat or Republican holds the Speaker's seat? If you're not invested in party politics, don't you care more about how either party is going to govern better than the other one?
Also, in addition to being less partisan, blanks are probably less well-informed. If you're not paying much attention to politics, you probably don't know exactly why Massa being a "Pelosi clone" is a bad thing.
It might move some people, I'll grant that. But as a message that will get undecideds to move in Randy's direction, I don't see it as a winner.
Many non-partisans can be motivated by a single issue to vote - especially sensitive topics in the southern tier are gun control and abortion. Kuhl could probably have done a better job explaining to these blanks what Pelosi has in mind,
Many non-partisans can be motivated by a single issue to vote
I agree. That's where Randy should spend his efforts, on issues, not on comparisons with someone most voters don't care that much about.