2022 Primary Elections

[Dan]

Trump's stranglehold on the party is real. Vance had no shot before he landed his endorsement.

OH-R Senate:

[zh cohen]

Vance had no shot before he landed his endorsement.

His two main opponents nearly getting into a fist fight on the debate stage probably also helped him.

[skyguy918]

Trump's stranglehold on the party is real. Vance had no shot before he landed his endorsement.

OH-R Senate:

And that's for a guy whose name he's couldn't even get right.

[aygart]

Trump's stranglehold on the party is real. Vance had no shot before he landed his endorsement.

31% isn't a stranglehold. An ex-president's endorsement makes sense to put someone on the map.

[Dan]

31% isn't a stranglehold. An ex-president's endorsement makes sense to put someone on the map.

32.2% now.
He was a distant 5th place in the polls before the endorsement. That Trump can singlehandedly raise him to 1st in a matter of weeks is eye opening.

[Dan]

BH!
https://twitter.com/AP_Politics/status/1521676878939144192?t=kGX0_N7sgmY6PwGFOoZOJw&s=19

[yesitsme]

BH!
https://twitter.com/AP_Politics/status/1521676878939144192?t=kGX0_N7sgmY6PwGFOoZOJw&s=19

good guy or best of the worst?

[Dan]

good guy or best of the worst?

Round 2 of this https://www.dansdeals.com/more/dans-commentary/breakdown-clevelands-jewish-community-denied-favored-squad-member-seat-congress/

[YitzyS]

I think we have to watch what happens in NJ-4, the congressional district which includes Lakewood. Chris Smith is a longtime incumbent, but Trump bashed him recently and invited challengers.

The number 3 guy dropped out today, consolidating the opposition behind Conservative talk show host Mike Crispi, whose campaign is being led by Roger Stone. Trump has not yet made an official endorsement in the race, but he might, and even if he doesn't, Crispi is the clear (lone) Trumper in the race. The district is very Republican, and Trump carried it both elections by a wide margin.

I'm waiting to see what happens here. (Though the Vaad will endorse Smith, which may impact things somewhat. וצ"ע.)

[Dan]

Landslide.
Hopefully will keep all sonei yisroel from running again in our town.

Can't win CLE, but hopes to be President 

https://www.thedailybeast.com/shontel-brown-defeats-nina-turner-in-tense-ohio-rematch

[yitzgar]

Can't win CLE, but hopes to be President 

https://www.thedailybeast.com/shontel-brown-defeats-nina-turner-in-tense-ohio-rematch

[Sam 77]

(Though the Vaad will endorse Smith, which may impact things somewhat. וצ"ע.)

Extremely hard to say after this past race for governor.

[yelped]

32.2% now.
He was a distant 5th place in the polls before the endorsement. That Trump can singlehandedly raise him to 1st in a matter of weeks is eye opening.

Scary and unfortunate.

[YitzyS]

Extremely hard to say after this past race for governor.

Hence the word "may," and the וצ"ע.

However, I think the VAAD will try to use Smith to regain some of their credibility with elected officials. IMO, Smith is a worthy endorsement, and if they can communicate that to the community, he will win Lakewood in a landslide, and with that, show (at least to non-Lakewooders) that they still have some clout.

But they can also botch it up and lose Smith voters.

[yesitsme]

I'm sure @YitzyS team is taking notes and learning from mistakes of others

[zh cohen]

Trump's stranglehold on the party is real.

Will be very interesting to see if Dr. Oz wins in PA.

[avromie7]

Hence the word "may," and the וצ"ע.

However, I think the VAAD will try to use Smith to regain some of their credibility with elected officials. IMO, Smith is a worthy endorsement, and if they can communicate that to the community, he will win Lakewood in a landslide, and with that, show (at least to non-Lakewooders) that they still have some clout.

But they can also botch it up and lose Smith voters.

He is definitely worthy, but I've always been surprised that such a red district doesn't have a more conservative representative.

[YitzyS]

He is definitely worthy, but I've always been surprised that such a red district doesn't have a more conservative representative.

Good point. But someone who can get results for people instead of just being a partisan talking head is much better for us IMO.

[avromie7]

Good point. But someone who can get results for people instead of just being a partisan talking head is much better for us IMO.

Politicians are not talking heads, their vote actually matters.

[YitzyS]

Politicians are not talking heads, their vote actually matters.

Interestingly, I've heard from an insider that Smith will never actually vote against his party if he's the deciding vote on a major partisan bill. And that he had "permission" from the party to vote against repealing Obamacare, because his vote was not a deciding vote.

If this is true, it sort of negates the "puts constituents over party" claim that he always makes, but at the same time, it can be a reason to vote for him without worrying that he'll be the cause for the overturn of Conservative legislation.

Bottom line, he's a politician, just like the rest of them. But he also has influence because of his seniority, and he has helped many people in the community over the last years. (Like to get stimulus checks and Unemployment during Covid.)