Both Parties Claiming Election as Victory

November 12th, 2007, posted by blackrobe

While Pennsylvania Republican Party Chairman Robert A. Gleason, Jr. said that he was proud of the “huge Republican victories all across the Commonwealth,” Gov. Edward G. Rendell told reporters that the Republicans got a “schlumping” last Tuesday.

Rendell, the state’s top Democrat, noted that his party gained control of 13 county courthouses while losing only four to the GOP, and only one of them in a major population center, Berks County. Rendell also emphasized Democratic victories for two Supreme Court seats and a Superior Court seat in the election, while losing two Superior Court seats.

Meanwhile, Gleason pronounced in a press release that the “Republican Party is back!”

“We have the momentum heading into next year’s election,” said Gleason. “This proves that the hard work and determination of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania is second to none. Our candidates and grassroots volunteers around the state never gave up and kept battling. We are excited by what we were able to accomplish!”

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Glad someone picked up on this spin

On November 12th, 2007 Stanley said:

One of my biggest pet peeves is that effort that parties/politicians make to spin news in their favor. This is a great example. Both parties want people, and especially the media, to believe the story that they won this year.

Agreed, Stan...

On November 13th, 2007 thegentlemanfro... said:

The post-election press blitz by both parties is pretty much par for the course. As I commented last week, I’d argue this off-year election was a bit of a let-down for both sides. The GOP kept control of the Philly “collars” (much to the chagrin of the Dems), while the Dems kept a vice-like grip on Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and the surrounding area. Sure, there was some turnover, but not much, and some victories were notable. I think it was a bit of an achievement for the GOP to run the table in the southeast after last year’s statewide electoral debacle. The Dems were able to take at least a symbolic majority on the state Supreme Court. The GOP took over in Berks, and the Dems gained some ground in Lehigh (if I’m not mistaken), Other than that, this election wasn’t exactly earth-shattering. However, if guys like Rendell and Gleason acted otherwise, they wouldn’t be doing their jobs.