(Newser)
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Last night's Tea Party wins are a mixed bag for Democrats, who are giddily confident they'll trounce Senate contender Christine O'Donnell in November, dimming GOP hopes of a Senate takeover. But they're quaking in their party neckties about what obvious voter disgust means for other races. The party plans to easily pick off O'Donnell, the Tea Party funded, Sarah-Palin-backed "anti-masturbation candidate" who has never held elected office. (Catch up on her views here.) “Delawareans need a senator focused on creating jobs, not promoting bizarre conspiracy theories and an extreme social agenda,” crowed Democratic contender Chris Coons. Even Republicans were already writing off the seat, notes Politico.
"We were looking at eight to nine seats in the Senate. We’re now looking at seven to eight. This is not a race we’re going to win," Karl Rove said on Fox News. But O'Donnell's win, along with Tea Party darling Carl Paladino's victory in New York's gubernatorial primary—more bad news for the GOP—spells even bigger trouble for the Dems in November than predicted. "A big wave for Republicans is almost guaranteed," says University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato, who has projected Republican gains in the House to 47 seats—enough to win a majority. For more on Paladino's win, click here.
