Today's NY-26 Vote: Women Are the Candidates and Issues (Not Image) Rule

And I'd add that the tea party presence - compared to how it was in several elections in 2010 was really unlike those experiences. One national figure came out and specifically said that they did not support the tea party candidate, Jack Davis, and of course many people suggested that he wasn't tea party at all, and yet his history seemed to indicate that in some ways, he might be classic tea party - in the way that early on, many in the tea party wanted to say that people drawn to it were not Dem, Rep or anything in particular but just agreed with certain principles (he apparently was a Republican, but had run as a Democrat at least once or twice before).

Local politics - they are still very local, even when injected with national issues.

Oh - self-funding - I would add that in as well as a negative for Davis and Corwin, esp in the current climate of unemployment, sluggish economy - Corwin's personal narrative didn't play well in this election overall and frankly, the female Republican self-funders have had a terrible time getting elected - Linda McMahon, Carly Fiorina & Meg Whitman standing out (but yes - there are plenty of Dem self-funders that fail too!).

Thanks for the link to your post.

Jill Writes Like She Talks ( http://www.writeslikeshetalks.com )

In The Arena: Jill Miller Zimon, Pepper Pike City Council Member ( http://jillmillerzimon.blogspot.com )

I believe there are lessons in this special election for both Republicans and Democrats in the results.

Having both candidates being women, mothers and previous office holders neutralized those issues and allow us a unique look at the politics behind this race.

An risky Republican position on Medicare was exploited, the Democrats had a candidate that could appeal to some Republicans, the Democratic base was energized and the Tea Party fielded a third party candidate. A perfect storm so to speak.

I've expanded my take on the election in my blog. http://www.whatweshouldknowblog.com/2011/05/republ... ( http://www.whatweshouldknowblog.com/2011/05/republ... )

Centerist Cynic

www.whatweshouldknowblog.com ( http://www.whatweshouldknowblog.com )

See the results here:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2011/... ( http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2011/... )

You can expect to hear about self-funding, Medicare, Paul Ryan and the tea party

Enjoy!

Jill Writes Like She Talks ( http://www.writeslikeshetalks.com )

In The Arena: Jill Miller Zimon, Pepper Pike City Council Member ( http://jillmillerzimon.blogspot.com )

Nate Silver tweeted that David Wasserman called it for Kathy Hochul, the Democratic candidate. Also, Dave Weigel at Slate and the editor at Cook Report. The tabulations I was following showed her up at least 5% but I am told that there are good numbers of absentees that won't be counted just yet too. So - I would not say it's over yet.

Jill Writes Like She Talks ( http://www.writeslikeshetalks.com )

In The Arena: Jill Miller Zimon, Pepper Pike City Council Member ( http://jillmillerzimon.blogspot.com )

Here's a great live-blog by a Celeste Katz at the NY Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/201... ( http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/201... )

Jill Writes Like She Talks ( http://www.writeslikeshetalks.com )

In The Arena: Jill Miller Zimon, Pepper Pike City Council Member ( http://jillmillerzimon.blogspot.com )