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Republicans already back to work after big wins

Republicans are feeling good after enjoying numerous election victories for our statewide and local candidates. Winning the fiercely contested Supreme Court race for Joan Orie Melvin was the highlight of a night that saw Republicans sweep 6 of the 7 statewide judicial seats, with the chance to sweep the statewide elections still a distinct possibility, as one of the Superior Court races is still too close to call.

Many of the successes we enjoyed on Election Night were due in large part to the effective ground game our Party employed. Even Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney said this in referencing the Republican Party: “They probably put more into their field effort than we did.”

I think G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College correctly noted that, “Republicans were generally excited about this election and were beneficiaries of the Tea Parties and the health care protests.”

Republicans have capitalized on a national and state displeasure with Democratic policies like a government takeover of business, nationalized health care and a state budget that was more than three months late.

We saw outrage at Tax Enough Already (TEA) Parties, rallies and health care town halls and citizens came out to reject those policies.  Those citizens came out to send a message to Democrats that this is not the kind of change we need in Pennsylvania.

If Democrats continue on this crash course that the Obama and Rendell administrations are laying out, Republicans are looking at regaining the Governor’s Mansion, retiring Arlen Specter, picking up a handful of congressional seats, continuing our control of the state Senate and restoring Republican control of the state House.

November 10, 2009 at 2:33 pm

--Michael Barley

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