Winners & losers in the world of politics

Here's something for Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton to keep in mind as they celebrate victory in the Iowa Caucuses.

Know who won the last two Republican gatherings in Iowa?

That would be Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.

I'm thinking maybe more important than the winners in Iowa are the big losers.

On the Republican side, that would have to be Donald Trump, whose showing did not live up to the bluster.

Also keep an eye on Marco Rubio. The Florida senator made a late charge and almost overcame Trump as well. I still think he winds up as the Republican nominee.

On the Democratic side, early this morning Clinton was claiming victory. This still has to be seen as a stinging setback for the woman who was expected to cruise to victory - and the nomination. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will be emboldened by his showing in Iowa - nearly dead even with Clinton.

Here in Delaware County, keep your eyes on the Democrats in the state House 164th District race.

This one is going to be a bare-knuckles, bruising affair.

Incumbent state Rep. Margo Davidson was successful Sunday night in her desire for an open primary. She didn't win the endorsement from the party faithful, but that's not really the point. What she really wanted was to be sure they did not back her opponent, Upper Darby Township Councilmember Sekela Coles.

Davidson managed to do that, and mocked Coles' claim of a win by way of the 39-34 vote. It wasn't enough to win an endorsement, but Coles still claimed victory.

There was some good news for Joe Sestak as well. While Katie McGinty was collecting another key labor endorsement, he managed to snag the backing of Delaware County Democrats, something he did not get back in 2010. You might remember that's when Sestak decided to spit in the face of party leaders who had lined up behind party-switching incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter. Sestak flew if the face of party decorum and KO'd Specter in the primary, only to loses a tight race to Republican Pat Toomey in the November general election.

Sestak wants another shot at Toomey, but once again is getting little in the way of love from Democratic party leaders, who are lining up behind McGinty.

But Sunday night Sestak got the endorsement of Delco Dems.

Statewide polls show him with a slim lead over McGinty. He'll need all the local support he can get.

Comments

Beth Alois said…
Phil, you are wrong about 2010. The Delco Dems did endorse Joe Sestak that year.