The Other McCain

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EXCLUSIVE: O’Donnell Mailer Slams Democrat Chris Coons on Tax Increases

Posted on | September 28, 2010 | 27 Comments

The Delaware Senate campaign of Christine O’Donnell opened its general-election campaign assault on Democrat Chris Coons, labeling him a “big spending, big taxing, typical politician” in a Tuesday statewide  mailing focused on Coons’ record as New Castle County executive:


As National Journal‘s Hotline On Call has reported, Coons “spearheaded one of the largest tax increases in state history” in New Castle County. The O’Donnell mailer, sent to tens of thousands of Delaware voters, notes that Coons promised during his 2004 campaign not to raise property taxes: “Then he broke that promise and increased property taxes by 48% and drove New Castle County to the brink of bankruptcy. Can we believe anything he promises us now?”

Some Republicans — including state party chairman Tom Ross — were disappointed by O’Donnell’s GOP primary upset of longtime Republican Rep. Mike Castle, and have been harshly critical of O’Donnell. However, in a Sept. 14 column, Byron York of the Washington Examiner urged Republicans to focus their criticism on the record of O’Donnell’s Democratic opponent:

Coons, 47, is the top executive of New Castle County, home to a majority of Delaware’s population. From a Republican perspective, there’s one really important thing to know about his time in office: In 2004, when Coons first ran for the job, he promised not to raise taxes. Since then he has raised taxes not once, not twice, but three times.
Coons inherited a surplus. Celebrating victory on election night in 2004, he said his “top priority would be to continue balancing the budget without increasing property taxes,” according to an account in the local News Journal. Yet in 2006, he pushed through a 5 percent increase in property taxes. In 2007, he raised property taxes 17.5 percent. In 2009, he raised them another 25 percent.
Coons wanted to raise other taxes, too. He proposed a hotel tax, a tax on paramedic services, even a tax on people who call 911 from cell phones.

The O’Donnell mailer demonstrates the Republican’s strategy of running a campaign targeted directly on the economic and budget issues that polls show are at the top of voters’ priorities in this year’s midterm elections.

There are indications that O’Donnell’s campaign has an edge in grassroots enthusiasm. Tuesday night, Coons brought in Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine for an event at the University of Delaware where, according to the Associated Press, “about 100 people” showed up. Meanwhile, at a nearby pizza restaurant, so many O’Donnell supporters turned out for a volunteer meet-up that it was “overflowing” with many forced to “stand out on the sidewalk,” Eric Dondero reported by telephone from the scene.

Category: Christine O'Donnell, Delaware, Election, Senate

Comments

27 Responses to “EXCLUSIVE: O’Donnell Mailer Slams Democrat Chris Coons on Tax Increases”

  1. richard mcenroe
    September 28th, 2010 @ 10:34 pm

    But… but… she’s unelectable!

  2. Robert Stacy McCain
    September 28th, 2010 @ 10:45 pm

    But… but… she’s unelectable!

    LOL. Reminds me that I need to collect that beer I bet with a certain prominent pundit who told me in July she couldn’t win the primary.

  3. Chris Cooms
    September 28th, 2010 @ 10:46 pm

    I’ve got a Big Mailer and little busy hands.

    Figure it out.

  4. TR Sterling
    September 28th, 2010 @ 10:55 pm

    Wait until Sarah drops over to Delaware. Think ruby slippers, click twice!

  5. Ed Driscoll » A Man on a Squishee Bender can sure do some Crazy Things
    September 28th, 2010 @ 11:06 pm

    […] And speaking of O’Donnell, Stacy McCain reviews her new ad campaign: “O’Donnell Mailer Slams Democrat Chris Coons on Tax Increases.” Filed under: Bobos In Paradise, The Future and its […]

  6. Terry in GA
    September 28th, 2010 @ 11:06 pm

    That’s a good mailer — especially the picture on the bottom.

    I don’t care what anybody says, in this election, nothing is impossible. But, then again, call me a dreamer but I happen to believe when you can not be trusted to represent the people who sent you to Washington, your young female opponent is one step ahead of you to begin the primary battle and, therefore, I believed Christine was the favored winner from the time I heard of the race. An absolute and certain disqualifier in my opinion is someone who cannot be trusted to vote the will of their own constituents.

    If she pledges to Delewareans that she believes in the United States of America and the ability of Americans to prosper and to lead the world, if she acknowledges that we are imperfect and do, sometimes, make mistakes but that America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth, and if she pledges to represent DELAWARE VOTERS AND NOT BETRAY THEIR WILL at the insistence of an “establishment machine”, then she will be the next Senator of Delaware.

    Fight fairly, keep the faith, overcome evil with good, and ignore the idiots along the way.

  7. Matt
    September 28th, 2010 @ 11:13 pm

    The sound you hear is the tide turning.

  8. Chris Cooms
    September 28th, 2010 @ 11:16 pm

    Ahhhh, that sound heard was actually me Matt. My busy little hands are no longer so busy. Give me some recovery time.

  9. Chris Coons» Blog Archive » O’Donnell Mailer Slams Democrat Chris Coons on Tax Increases
    September 28th, 2010 @ 11:59 pm

    […] Check out this article in The Other McCain: EXCLUSIVE: O’Donnell Mailer Slams Democrat Chris Coons on Tax Increases […]

  10. FenelonSpoke
    September 29th, 2010 @ 2:55 am

    Waylay is pissed; That’s great!!

  11. Some of the headlines you may have missed… « Cubachi
    September 29th, 2010 @ 9:52 am

    […] The Other McCain: EXCLUSIVE: O’Donnell Mailer Slams Democrat Chris Coons on Tax Increases […]

  12. Boot Mike Castle» Blog Archive » O’Donnell Mailer Slams Democrat Chris Coons on Tax Increases
    September 29th, 2010 @ 1:15 pm

    […] Check out this article in The Other McCain: EXCLUSIVE: O’Donnell Mailer Slams Democrat Chris Coons on Tax Increases […]

  13. What’s going on in Delaware? « Olliander
    September 29th, 2010 @ 11:38 pm

    […] online phenomenon more than anything (over $2 million raised doesn’t come in the mail), and people more astute than I on these matters have better insight as to what’s really going on in Delaware.  At least I hope so, anyway.  […]

  14. Ben (The Tiger)
    September 30th, 2010 @ 12:46 pm

    Well, that was the O’Donnell primary argument — she can run with this message, and Castle couldn’t…

  15. Peter Fescue
    September 30th, 2010 @ 3:24 pm

    YOU GOTTA SEE THIS — watch Rock peters’ MUSIC VIDEO about Christine O’Donnell’s campaign