Chris Cummins
Staff Writer 9/15/10
                                                                 
    The Tea Party made its presence in the midterms felt once again in Delaware, as the recalcitrant tide which begin a little more than a year ago continues to defy expectations. No midterm embodies this trend more than the above mentioned race.  Caroline O’ Donnell, one time abstinence advocate and telemarketer, has seemingly eschewed the game of party politics, mobilizing the Tea Party faithful even in a liberal state like Delaware, and toppling an establishment candidate, Mike Castle, whom many strategists cast as a certainty for the Republicans in the general election.  The reason such surprising results are not merely written off as an enthused rebirth of a surging party is the fact that such sentiment is hurting both parties, in various degrees and fashions.   Mrs. O’ Donnell is only but one result of the rightward lurch of the country; in New York, Carl Paladino, a small time politician more known for his fondness of forwarding of racist and pornographic e-mail, has deposed Rick Lazio, an established conservative Republican, merely through fiery rhetoric about a campaign of political cleansing. Rick Lazio has declined to bow out, opting instead to run as an independent, and ostensibly splitting the conservative. It will be interesting to see whether the GOP can harness the power of the Tea Party, and use it to sweep to power, or instead have the afore mentioned party drive the GOP into extremism, and defeat.  A useful opinion on the week’s event’s can be found here: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/hot-tea-cool-g-o-p/?scp=1&sq=Christine%20Carl&st=cse