BLUE AND GOLD 2006

Delaware politicians show their true colors. Who is feeling blue? Who is looking like gold? The Grapevine knows.

Nov. 14, 2006

Beau Biden Democratic attorney general-elect GOLD The Republicans did everything they could to damage him. It probably would have been easier if he was Beau Smith
Bob Gilligan House Democratic minority leader GOLD His side picks up three seats, and the Republicans are in disarray. Call him "Mr. Virtual Speaker"
Tom Carper Democratic U.S. senator BLUE He gets six more years in D.C. and a record 12th statewide win, his pride and joy. Mike Castle has 11. For anyone wearing a "Castle '08" button on Return Day, Carper was taking names
Charlie Copeland Republican state senator GOLD The state GOP could run Chateau Country's finest for governor. The party may lose elections, but it's not about to lose its donor base
Michael Dalto Democratic candidate for auditor GOLD He's a complete unknown and gets 46% of the vote -- a thank-you from over-saturated voters to a candidate whose only campaign tool was a "do-not-call" list 
Dennis Spivack Democratic congressional candidate BLUE He campaigns obsessively and gets 39% of the vote. He should have stayed home like Dalto

Sept. 15, 2006

John Carney & Jack Markell Democratic rivals for governor GOLD Just wait two years. These guys will cure that low primary turnout
Ruth Ann Minner Democratic governor BLUE She leaves the country during the primary and doesn't vote absentee. She's not even mailing it in
Jan Ting Republican candidate for U.S. Senate BLUE He waffled on Vietnam, he waffled on abortion rights, and the Republicans waffled on him
Ferris Wharton Republican candidate for attorney general GOLD The way things are going for endorsed Republicans, it was a good thing he didn't have a primary
Basil Battaglia Republican ex-chair GOLD In retrospect, he's starting to look better and better, isn't he?
Bob Gilligan House Democratic speaker-in-waiting GOLD He might not get his "Six in '06," but he could get "Enough in '08"
Bobby Walls Kent County Democratic legislative candidate GOLD He's running against Republican Ulysses S. Grant. The man needs a new nickname -- from Robert E. "Bobby" Walls to Robert E. "Lee" Walls

Aug. 30, 2006

Joe Biden Democratic U.S. senator GOLD He skips the Sussex Democratic jamboree, but people talk about him, anyway. He's like Pluto -- still there, no matter what
Jack Markell Democratic state treasurer GOLD He takes a bike tour through the state. Funny, it's what the Republicans did to find a candidate against him -- a lot of spinning their wheels
Dennis Spivack Democratic congressional candidate BLUE Tom Carper waltzes around the state for photo ops with Mike Castle and then gives Spivack $10,000. In politics this is known as "chump change"
Jan Ting Republican senatorial candidate BLUE Where's he been? Somebody forget to tell the college prof that candidates don't get the summer off
Tom Wagner Republican state auditor GOLD He could run unopposed. In gratitude, he's nicknaming the straps on his trademark suspenders "Christina School District" and "Middletown"
Ulysses S. Grant Real name of a Kent County legislative candidate in a Republican primary BLUE Joe Biden says Delaware is a slave state. This guy thinks he's going to win below the canal?

July 18, 2006

Mike Castle Republican U.S. representative BLUE His stem cell bill could be Bush's first veto. Castle was with him on "No Child Left Behind" but not on "No Embryo Left Behind"
Joe DiPinto Republican state representative GOLD He leaves Legislative Hall for City Hall and a $40,000 raise. So that's what it means when politicians say "follow the money"
Joe Biden Democratic U.S. senator BLUE After his talk about Justice Sam Alito and Dunkin' Donuts, the Republicans would love his next opponent to be an Indian-American who went to Princeton
Dennis Spivack Democratic congressional candidate BLUE He's got more donations than the Democrats in Castle's last six races combined. Too bad his $122,000 still looks like the back end of a decimal point to Castle
Bank of America   BLUE Those red and blue signs out front make the green awnings look like someone put the wrong dress on a corpse
Archmere   BLUE The school really didn't need to change the name that much. People would have been satisfied with the "Capano Life Without Probation or Parole Center"

May 3, 2006

Mike Castle Republican U.S. representative GOLD Chuck Hagel is the first prez type to come in for him, but what they all don't know is he's secretly backing Joe in '08. How else does he get that Senate seat?
Ferris Wharton Republican candidate for attorney general GOLD He starts work at the Fox Rothschild law firm. Beau has a daddy, but he has a sugar daddy
Ruth Ann Minner Democratic governor BLUE She returns from another trip to Europe. You just can't keep them down on the farm after they've see Paree
Terry Spence House Republican speaker GOLD Bill Frist wants to give $100 for gas. Hey, didn't Spence want to hand out $250 for electric? Terry Spence for president!
John Carney Democratic lieutenant governor GOLD Minner backs him for gov in '08. Hip hip hurray
Jack Markell Democratic state treasurer GOLD Minner doesn't back him for gov. Have you seen her approval ratings? Hip hip hurray

March 31, 2006

Delaware General Assembly   BLUE This session has been such a dog, the only thing of note that's passed is Ruth Ann Minner's kidney stone
Ferris Wharton Republican candidate for attorney general BLUE Sure, he could crush Beau in a courtroom. But now he's in the court of public opinion, and it's stacked for the Democrats
Jan Ting Republican candidate for U.S. Senate BLUE Once the Republicans loved you, but now they love Ferris best. Sorry, running against a Carper just doesn't make them as mad as running against a Biden
Tom Gordon & Sherry Freebery New Castle County Democratic ex-officials GOLD Ferris took a hike. What are the chances they get a walk?
Tom Wagner Republican state auditor GOLD He's got the lowest profile of the statewide officials and no opponent. Whaddaya know, "Hide & Seek" isn't just a game, it's a campaign strategy
Mike Hare Wilmington Democratic ex-councilman GOLD When the pols competed to be the most Irish on St. Patty's Day, he won. Because he puts milk in his tea and at 44, he lives with his mother

Posted: Feb. 24, 2006

Ferris Wharton Assistant U.S. attorney & ex-chief deputy attorney general GOLD After Sherry Freebery gets a federal mistrial, he thinks about being the Republican candidate for attorney general. Those state judges look better all the time
Helene Keeley Democratic state representative BLUE She says her husband applied for a state job without telling her. No "Feminist of the Year" award for her
Terry Spence Republican speaker BLUE He wants to win over voters with $250 for their electric bills. Oh, for the days it only took a half-pint of whiskey and a $5 bill
John Still Senate Republican minority leader BLUE He sends out postcards to try to find Senate candidates. Up next -- bloodhounds and milk cartons
Jack Markell Democratic state treasurer GOLD Counting $725,000 he loaned his campaign, he's got more money than Mike Castle's $1.2 million. Whaddaya know -- he's got no opponent
Mike Castle Republican U.S. representative GOLD What, reach into his own pocket? He'll take the opponent any day

Posted: Jan. 23, 2006

Joe Biden Democratic U.S. senator GOLD Joe gets criticized for his words. At least they are all his words. This is progress
Mike Castle  Republican U.S. representative  BLUE State House Republicans stiff him by running away from stem cell research, his signature issue. Then the GOP wonders why it's the minority party
Dennis Spivack Democratic congressional candidate GOLD Sure, he can't beat Castle. But how many people get to say they appeared on a ballot between a Carper and a Biden?
Tina Fallon, Hazel Plant, Liane Sorenson & Margaret Henry State legislators GOLD They get appointed to an honorary escort committee to bring in the governor for the "State of the State." And they find her!
Slots   BLUE The slots were supposed to bail out the horses, and now the state is supposed to bail out the slots. This is the new capitalism -- when the handout needs a handout
Colm Connolly U.S. attorney BLUE Sherry Freebery gets off. Because? If the loan's a gift, you must acquit

BLUE & GOLD ARCHIVES -- 2005

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