Tea Party Express lands in Delaware

Group continues its support for republican candidate Christine O’Donnell in the September 14th primary in Delaware

With just one week left before the Senate Primary, the national Tea Party Express will unleash a $250,000 ad campaign to convince Delaware Republicans to vote for Christine O’Donnell and against Congressman Michael Castle.  

The group hosted a rally at the Doubletree Hotel on Concord Pike to kick off the week-long campaign blitz.  Tea Party Express chairman Amy Kremer says the group hopes to repeat their success in
Alaska in helping Joe Miller win the Republican  primary against Senator Lisa Murkowski.  Kremer says, ” “This state is really no different than Nevada, or [Alaska], or Utah, or any of the other states that we’ve gotten involved in.”  She says the Tea Party Express is in Delaware because local supporters asked them to get involved.  “We only get involved in races where we think we can make a difference, where we can have an impact, and put somebody over the top.  That’s why we’re here supporting Christine O’Donnell.”

While the focus of the group’s fundraising has involved their grass roots supporters around the country, with one week to go until the primary, the Tea Party Express will blanket the TV and radio airwaves with commercials championing O’Donnell and criticizing Castle. The decision to spend big bucks on Philadelphia TV advertising will mean that much of the group’s message will go to Pennsylvania and New Jersey voters, who are of course ineligible to vote in a Delaware primary. Kremer says, “Unfortunately that’s the way it is, and we have to go with it. That’s what we plan to do, is go on the Philadelphia airwaves because we know that that’s going to have an impact here.”

Christine O’Donnell made an appearance at the Tuesday morning rally, telling supporters, “This is the year where we’re putting party principles over party power, and this is the year where that is a winning strategy.” This is O’Donnell’s third run for the U.S. Senate since 2006. She says, “I am optimistic. I’m optimistic that we can begin the effort to turn the tide in our country and get our country back on track.”

She says Castle’s campaign has gone on the attack because he “can’t defend his liberal voting record.”  Throughout the event, Castle was referred to as a member of the “ruling class” while O’Donnell was dubbed one of the people, “a commoner.”  Referring to the Castle campaign’s webiste highlighting some of her personal financial troubles,  O’Donnell told the group, “It’s a shame that an incumbent Congressman has to stoop that low, but what is so exciting and energizing by all this, is you’re not being duped.”

The Tea Party Express is planning a pair of rallies this week. The first will be on Legislative Mall in Dover on Wednesday at 6:30 PM. The second will be at the American Legion Post in Millsboro on Friday at 5:30 PM.

O’Donnell’s Tea Party endorsements have raised her profile among the national media.  Her contest was mentioned in a story by the New York Times Monday.  O’Donnell will sit down with WHYY’s show First on Wednesday.  That interview will be seen on the Delaware election page and Friday September 10th on First at 5:30 and 10pm with a reairing Monday September 13th before the primary.