Report: O’Donnell Tells GOPers ‘I’ve Got Sean Hannity In My Back Pocket’

Christine O'Donnell
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Republican Delaware Senate nominee Christine O’Donnell has figured out how to deal with the national Republican Party not giving her enough financial support: Go out and attack them for it on right-wing media outlets, in order to raise money from grassroots Tea Partiers instead.

As Howard Fineman reports:

Specifically, according to two top GOP insiders, she said at a strategy meeting with DC types last week: “I’ve got Sean Hannity in my back pocket, and I can go on his show and raise money by attacking you guys.”

And that was precisely what she was doing on the radio today. On Hannity’s popular afternoon drive-time show, the Tea Party-inspired Senate contender acidly criticized the party, specifically the National Republican Senatorial Committee, for not funneling any serious cash (beyond a pro forma $43,000) into her race against Democrat Chris Coons.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Christine O’Donnell: Anti-Masturbation Crusader. Witchcraft Dabbler. Republican Senate Nominee.]

In some ways this is similar to Sharron Angle’s strategy in the Nevada Senate race, of going on conservative media outlets in order to raise money from viewers. But it also has a certain feeling of don’t get mad, get even.

However, there is a reason the national GOP is staying away — the polls all seem to point to this race being unwinnable for O’Donnell, and that her win in the Republican primary threw off what would have been a likely victory by the original establishment-backed GOP candidate, Congressman Mike Castle.

The TPM Poll Average gives Democratic nominee Chris Coons a lead of 55.5%-37.2%.

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