Christine O’Donnell’s stunning victory in Delaware over the liberal — but, as some have argued, much more electable — Republican Rep. Mike Castle for the GOP Senate nomination was the culmination of several days of heated back-and-forth among conservatives. Here’s a sampling:
The O’Donnell doubters
Rich Lowry, National Review: “O’Donnell will be…a conservative standard-bearer who could have been selected by a group of hostile people out to create an unflattering impression of us.”
Columnist Charles Krauthammer: “It’s a big mistake,” he said of Sarah Palin and Sen. Jim DeMint’s endorsement of O’Donnell. He also called it “capricious and irresponsible.”
Former Bush presidential adviser Karl Rove: “It does conservatives little good to support candidates who, at the end of the day, while they may be conservative in their public statements, do not evince the characteristics of rectitude and truthfulness and sincerity and character that the voters are looking for.”
MSNBC host and Former GOP Rep. Joe Scarborough: “I agree with Karl Rove,” on the quote above.
William Kristol, Weekly Standard: “Christine O’Donnell is the exception to the rule that Republicans have, on the whole, nominated strong, electable and conservative candidates in key Senate, gubernatorial, and House races…In the Senate, Christine O’Donnell will almost certainly lose a seat that could have been won.”
Matt Kibbe, president of former House majority leader Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks: “We stayed out of that race because we’re not convinced that Christine O’Donnell can win.”
Daivd Brooks, New York Times: “Take a look at Christine O’Donnell’s victory speech last night in which she embraced the idea that freedoms in America are uniquely under threat. It’s all ugly narcissism, not reality.”
The O’Donnell supporters
Rush Limbaugh: “In an election year when voters are fed up with liberalism, you vote for the most conservative Republican in the primary — period.”
Radio host Mark Levin: “I am also confident that for those of us who believe in the Constitution and fear for the future of this country, O’Donnell would be a far better senator than Castle, and she’s worth our support. Castle had his chance. He failed.”
Levin also took a shot at the Weekly Standard’s John McCormack for a piece he authored on O’Donnell, calling the reporter “sleazy.”
Newt Gingrich predicted after O’Donnell’s primary win that she’ll go on to victory in November: “2010 is the year of the grassroots over the establishment.”
Sarah Palin: In her endorsement of O’Donnell on Sean Hannity’s radio show: “I do support the conservative in the race. She is against Obama’s cap and tax scheme, she is against Obama care, she is for the free market principles that need to get plugged in to put our economy on the right track. I do support the conservative in the race.”
Blogger Erick Erickson: “Sorry folks, but if we need Mike Castle for a Senate majority, we do not need a Senate majority.”
Blogger Dan Riehl: “Fox Should Suspend Rove And Investigate, Cornyn Must Resign” for opposing O’Donnell.