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O'Donnell Thought Biden Was Tapping Her Phone: Ex-Aide

Former workers describe nutty candidate

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 17, 2010 2:20 PM CDT

(Newser) – No one is more mystified by Christine O'Donnell's victory in Delaware than her former campaign workers, Politico reports. The Tea Party warrior is unrecognizable to staff members from her 2008 Senate bid—during which O'Donnell thought her opponent, Joe Biden, was tapping her phone. She was also fixated on TV exposure and a harebrained scheme involving giving out thousands of packets of suntan lotion.

"She was more concerned about getting a TV deal than winning office," one former staffer said of O'Donnell, adding that she took an expensive trip to the Republican National Convention in hopes of being named keynote speaker. As for the suntan lotion, O'Donnell's idea was to put a slogan on the packets: "Don't Get Burned By Higher Taxes. Vote Christine O'Donnell 2008." "It was an irresponsible idea," said her former financial officer. “And half the people in the street thought she was throwing condoms out of the truck.” Click here for more on O'Donnell.

Delaware Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell talks with family members in between television interviews, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

Delaware Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell laughs while talking with family members in between television interviews, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

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(NEWSER) - Funny what a little publicity can do. Christine O'Donnell's campaign has raked in $850,000 since Tuesday's win, ABC News reports . "We're at 99% of our $1,000,000 goal," O'Donnell herself tweeted this afternoon. "Help push us over the top." And even if that math is a smidge off, it's still quite a jump from the $20,374 she had in her campaign coffers before election night—and not bad for someone whose declared earnings from March 2009 to July of this year were just $5,800. As for opponent Chris Coons: He's pulled in $125,000 since Tuesday, notes the Huffington Post . For all things O'Donnell, click here . More»

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(NEWSER) - "The Palin is strong in this one," Jon Stewart warned ominously of Christine O'Donnell's Delaware victory in his Daily Show roundup of primary results lat night. He compared photos of the pair ("Just give her bangs and a pair of glasses ... oh my God!") and noted that the Delaware GOP nominee is "restoring America rhetoric." He then turned to a panel of Daily Show correspondents who agreed that no matter how easy they think defeating O'Donnell will be, the Democrats are certain to screw it up. More»

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O'Donnell Thought Biden Was Tapping Her Phone: Ex-Aide

Former workers describe nutty candidate

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Joe Biden • Delaware • US Senate • Republican National Convention • Election 2010 • Christine O'Donnell • Delaware Senate race

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