What the results of the "too close to call" election in NY-20 tells us is that it's a huge win for President Obama and another repudiation of Republicans in Congress. With a 70,000 voter advantage and Republicans spending almost double in Tedisco's district, the fact that Murphy leads by under a hundred votes is pretty amazing. Nobody I talked to thought there was a remote chance that Murphy had a shot at this.

Tedisco gave up over a 20-point lead faster then Usain Bolt ran the 100-yard dash in the Olympics. So just how unpopular is the Republican party?

The DCCC's Chris Van Hollen said it best:

"From 21 points down to securing a majority of the vote tonight, congratulations to Scott Murphy who ran an extraordinary campaign focused on his record as a successful businessman who helped to create jobs and his strong support for President Obama's economic recovery act. As votes continue to be counted, we're confident that Scott Murphy will expand his lead.

"Scott Murphy's strong showing in this district where Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than 70,000 represents a rejection of the obstructionist agenda and scare tactics that have become the hallmark of House Republicans."

Free Republic readers are freaking out.

To: napscoordinator
Why did we not win this seat easily.

Because half the voters are stupid enough to vote for the Democrat.

That would be a lot of stupid Republican voters...

Today is the day that NY-20 votes in the special election. CNN highlighted the race on The Situation Room and asked if it was a referendum on Obama-Nomics. John King looked at past elections in that district and realized while Obama took only 51% of the vote, it's traditionally a Republican district. Bush won it both times.

In one of the last polls taken, the Democratic challenger grabbed a four point lead and that has Tedisco shaking. King downplayed the election and said that if someone only grabs the win with a small percentage of voters then it's no big deal. Hey KING, there are 70,000 more republicans registered there. 70,000. If Tedisco loses it is a BIG DEAL.

Ex-McCaniac Dan Diaz, downplayed the significance of the race with Blitzer as having no national implications because he senses a problem there.

We do know that Tedisco is already filing a motion to overturn the election.
Tedisco is upset with the NRCC because they have been running attack ads against Murphy. Good times, good times.

Either way, Michael Spassky Steele has a lot riding on this election because his start as head of the RNC has been so embarrassing. A loss in a republican district will not look too good for the man who never makes any "gaffes." Oh, well, maybe a loss with 70,000 more voters on his side is what he really wants. You can never tell with the chess master.

You can be sure that if Tedisco wins, the cautious stance republicans are taking will shift into a full court press and screamathon about how this election proves America is not behind President Obama when it's a seat that they should easily capture. A lot of us weren't happy with Paterson's choice of Gillibrand because she did hold the seat in a republican district and in essence by picking her, he was giving up the seat to the republican just say no caucus. More shall be revealed. (Updated post)

Crooks & Liars is really proud of all the progressive candidates we got behind in 2008 and we're excited about the winners who are starting work in Washington this week-- as well as our California neighbor/Blue America superstar, Rep. Hilda Solis, who will be leaving Congress to become Secretary of Labor in the Obama cabinet. We expect great things from Hilda, and from new members of Congress like Alan Grayson (D-FL), Larry Kissell (D-NC), Jared Polis (D-CO), Eric Massa (D-NY), Tom Perriello (D-VA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jim Himes (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mark Schauer (D-MI) and of course from Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

But this isn't the time to sit back and rest on our laurels. Soon there will be a special election to fill Hilda's seat. And this week it was announced that the special election to fill Rahm Emanuel's seat in Chicago (IL-05) will be on April 7, with the crucial Democratic primary in this overwhemingly Democratic district (PVI: D+18) on March 3. March 3; that's like in a few weeks! Good news though, one of the best progressives to run for Congress in years anywhere tossed his hat into the ring yesterday: labor lawwyer, activist and author Tom Geoghegan (pronounced gay-gun).

If you're a fan of someone who has already proven himself a tough and unrelenting fighter for progressive ideals, from single payer health care to the unfettered rights of workers to unionize to livable pensions for retired workers comparable to the rest of the industrialized world's, please join me in donating to Tom's campaign. And if you take a look at DownWithTyranny, you'll find a special party-in-a-box offer for anyone who donates today.