Democrats’ Montco win reverberates regionally (PA)

[onehandle]

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

It was a local race in an off-year election that ordinarily wouldn't have created a ripple of interest outside the confines of Montgomery County.

But when Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards made history by securing a Democratic majority on the county's Board of Commissioners for the first time, it was an event of national significance, in the view of Michael Hagen, a political science professor at Temple University.

It spoke to a stunning turnabout in the county's political landscape, and a blue tide that continues to rise in Philadelphia's once-solidly Republican neighboring counties. Pennsylvania again will be a battleground state in the 2012 presidential election, he said, and those counties could decide the outcome.

Republicans in Bucks, Chester, and Delaware Counties fared better Tuesday, maintaining party control, but the GOP has reason to be concerned about the Montgomery County results, Hagen said.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/133584878.html

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This is Great news for Obama and Democrats in general for 2012.

[Roland99]

1. wait....

Obama's a Democrat?

[libinnyandia]

3. Not a perfect one, but there are very few of us who are perfect.

[Roland99]

10. he's not even close to resembling one.

much less perfect.

[mopinko]

2. really great news.

i think occupy has lit a fire. people are just seeing the unfairness all around them, and it doesn't take long to trace that back to the republican party. however many questionable and compromised dems there might be, there is no comparison between the parties.

[freshwest]

9. +1

[MgtPA]

4. It isn't getting a lot of exposure nationally, but Northampton Township

in Bucks County switched from Republican to Democratic control - first time in like 100 years or so. Some of the Republican supervisors have been sitting there for over 25 years. Lots of evidence of corruption and pay-to-play came to light since the last election.

[southernyankeebelle]

5. Shows people are paying attention. Maybe the tide will change from extreme.

[malthaussen]

6. It's a shame local elections

... don't get much play outside of their regions. It is, after all, at the grass roots where we have to start changing this country. Arguably, a county commissioner is more important in the day-to-day lives of the people than a US congressman...

-- Mal

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. Rec

:kick:

[Misskittycat]

8. I've been friends with Josh Shapiro's parents since high school. n/t

[RobinA]

11. Blue Tide?

Blue dog tide maybe. There's nothing remotely Democrat about these two. They ran a good campaign and made a tremendous get out the vote effort, which paid off. It also didn't help that they are, well....Republicans.

[DallasNE]

12. I Don't Think Polling Is Yet Picking Up On

The undercurrents at play right now. Perhaps pollsters will refine their questions and begin to pick up on what is really going on right now. It feels to me like there is a sea change going on right now.

[mvd]

13. Evcen better, the Teabagger Jenny Brown got the fewest votes

I am so happy about getting Democratic control here! First time in 140 years.

[savalez]

14. Darn right it's great news.