The twin city tea party filled the large event room, there was food, drink and frolic as members celebrated for hours their efforts of Election Day.
A victory party seemed out of place. Just two days earlier Massachusetts democrats had swept every statewide office from Auditor to Governor losing only two Governor’s council races and a handful of State Legislative seats.
When you look at races like ny-23 that are turning on under 2000 votes, think how much it meant nationally for the country for Democrats to be pinned down defending ground they shouldn’t have had to.
We 300 Spartans of the Twin City Tea Party are breaking out the Mead in our Valhalla at the Border Grille and Bar.
Update: The slideshow from Valhalla
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
There is not a long face in the house as we celebrate the greatest Republican victory nationwide in 90 years.
And what do the democrats in Massachusetts show for their empty war chests? Keeping what they already had, and losing their chairmanships that allow them to re-fill them.*
If that’s not cause to celebrate I’d like to know what is!
Now the two candidates are separated by 659 votes, meaning absentee ballots will decide the election over the next three weeks.
Maffei entered the day with 89,744 votes (52 percent) to Buerkle’s 84,165 votes (48 percent), according to unofficial election returns compiled by The Post-Standard.
After Wayne County reported, the new vote total is 99,594 or 50.17 percent for Buerkle and 98,935 or 49.83 percent for Maffei.
Let the Big Red Wave roll!
Update
*Roxeanne, who has co-opted DTG’s computer without his knowledge or permission, would like to note that we saw one of the greatest victories in this race: a Democrat was forced to (heaven forbid) reach into his own wallet. Barney Frank is $200,000 poorer for having faced Sean “Build Me a Robot” Bielat.
…about what will happen in Massachusetts today, does that mean all the work we’ve done is for naught? au contraire consider:
Every Dollar that the DNCC and interest groups raise to shore up Massachusetts is a dollar they can’t spend elsewhere
Every Dollar that congressional democrats in Massachusetts have to spend on their own campaigns is a dollar that they can’t use to help out their fellows all over the country.
Every day that Massachusetts pols are forced to campaign hard in Massachusetts is a day where they can’t be out campaigning elsewhere in the nation for a democrat in trouble.
Every day that the National media reports on democratic problems in Massachusetts is a day that shifts the narrative in our favor.
One of the principles of successful warfare is to keep your enemy pinned down while you exploit their weaknesses and maybe just maybe they make a mistake and you can push through.
Even if I’m all wet about everything else, this action has kept Millions of dollars and many many operatives pined down.
Take a bow Massachusetts, for even if we manage only one seat, we have played an important part in the Big Red Wave
I’ve been to every precinct in the city so far and this is what I saw.
In ward 6 where two years ago I stood alone a group held signs for republican candidates
Republicans in 2010 Ward 6
The only candidate on the democratic side promoted was Tom Foley for Sheriff
The only democrat signs in 6
I have never in my life seen more people holding signs for a question than for a candidate
Anti Question 1-3 electioneering
I was so struck by that I interviewed a gentleman there
Foley has drawn a fair amount of support. I’ve met him personally and I’m not surprised by that.
The man on the right is a republican but he is for Foley
There was a group of FSU students interviewing people for a government project, I asked them why they didn’t cover the Gunn event at the college, none of them had been told even though every teacher got an e-mail about it.
Where were these college folks when Gunn was on Campus?
In Ward five the turnout was VERY high, particularly in 5a
Ward 5 very busy
I talked to David Roth who I knew from high school, he was a year ahead of me.
In Ward 4 it was the same story
Two Poll workers in Ward 4
Ward 2 also had a very steady stream, their totals were already over the primaries before noon
Posing at the machine in Ward 2a
In ward three there were two big surprises. My mother who works the polls told me it was very steady, in the second ward the numbers were already over 800 by 12:30 p.m.
Ward 3 the busiest ward in town
In both wards 6 and 3 there were Democratic poll watchers checking to see if they needed to get their people out if they hadn’t voted. Two people I met at the Mayday march were also in 6 and 3. We disagree but they are very nice and I’m always pleased to see them.
I ran into John Olver in Ward 3. I still think he is dead wrong but I’ve learned to respect him as a gentleman who has never treated me with anything but respect. He has run a clean and honorable campaign.
John Olver and supporters in Fitchburg on election day
Ex Mayor Mylot was there as well, he was supporting the republican ticket. The men on the left holding signs for Lew held them for Bove in the primary at the same spot.
Ex Mayor Mylot in ward 3
The Shock of the day came as Bill Gunn showed up at the same time and he and Congressman Olver posed for a picture together.
Bill Gunn (r) and congressman John Olver (D) civil and honorable opponents
This was the picture of the day, although I think it will be a close race both have run positive, clean and issue oriented campaigns, it’s been an example to the entire nation.
In ward one the trend of incredible numbers continued:
Ward one with a full house
And the electioneering continued, the most popular democrat in the area is clearly Foley
Signs for foley in ward 1
Republicans signs were in every place except for ward 4 downtown.
Republicans holding signs in ward 1
Bottom line all signs point toward huge turnout and if the Scott Brown trend of January is a barometer, then I’d be worried if I was the left
Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog 